Isaiah 66:1: “Thus says the LORD: / ‘Heaven is My throne, / And earth is My footstool. / Where is the house that you will build Me? / And where is the place of My rest?”

September 29th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Isaiah began the final summary of his prophecy with a reminder that the Creator of all things is not interested in a man-made building on earth. His majesty is so great that it fills both heaven and earth. God was trying to remove the citizens of Jerusalem’s main object of confidence, warning them that they were trusting in the temple and their religious sacrifices instead of a personal relationship with Him.

The first martyr in the New Testament, Stephen, quoted this passage in Acts 7:49 as an indictment against the Jewish High Council, the Sanhedrin. Stephen pointed out their error in limiting God to an earthly temple. God desired to dwell in receptive human hearts. God is still looking beyond the outward rituals of religion for a heart that is tender and broken toward Him, that wishes to follow Him: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chron. 16:9).

There is a story of a grandmother who took her 4-year-old granddaughter to the doctor’s office because she had a fever. The doctor looked in her ears and said, “Who’s in there, Donald Duck?” “No,” said the little girl. Then the doctor looked in her nose and said, “Who’s in there, Mickey Mouse?” Again she answered, “No.” Finally he put his stethoscope on her heart and asked, “Who’s in there, Barney?” The little girl was indignant. “No! Jesus is in my heart. Barney is on my underwear!” Not a bad theology for a 4-year-old, do you think?

“LORD, we need You in our hearts and heads today; please rule over every thing we think and say.”