Isaiah 66:7-9

[CHB]

Hello Everyone,

I couldn't find "start topic" anywhere on "Christian Life-General" or "Members Lounge". jabcat, if you want to move this feel free to do so. Sorry if this is in the wrong place.

I would like everyone's opinion on what the verses in (Isaiah 66:7-9) is talking about. If anyone could tell me someone who has written an article on this I would really appreciate it.  Thanks so much.

CHB

[jabcat]

Hm, interesting scripture for sure.  Good find.

Nothing to be sorry about, no real problem, but I agree it probably fits better over there. I moved it, thanks!   :bigGrin:

[jabcat]

 1 This is what the LORD says:
      "Heaven is my throne,
      and the earth is my footstool.
      Where is the house you will build for me?
      Where will my resting place be?

2 Has not my hand made all these things,
      and so they came into being?"
      declares the LORD.
      "This is the one I esteem:
      he who is humble and contrite in spirit,
      and trembles at my word.


6 Hear that uproar from the city,
      hear that noise from the temple!
      It is the sound of the LORD
      repaying his enemies all they deserve.

7 "Before she goes into labor,
      she gives birth;
      before the pains come upon her,
      she delivers a son.

8 Who has ever heard of such a thing?
      Who has ever seen such things?
      Can a country be born in a day
      or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
      Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
      than she gives birth to her children.

9 Do I bring to the moment of birth
      and not give delivery?" says the LORD.
      "Do I close up the womb
      when I bring to delivery?" says your God.

10 "Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
      all you who love her;
      rejoice greatly with her,
      all you who mourn over her.

11 For you will nurse and be satisfied
      at her comforting breasts;
      you will drink deeply
      and delight in her overflowing abundance."

12 For this is what the LORD says:
      "I will extend peace to her like a river,
      and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
      you will nurse and be carried on her arm
      and dandled on her knees.

[Beloved Servant]

Perhaps it means that: The manchild, the Sons of God, are birthed out of her silently; then comes her travail!

[jabcat]

I tend to lean toward it being a prophecy and a picture of the advent of Jesus from Jerusalem and His salvation bursting forth - as a woman in travail, giving birth to a child.  The rest of the chapter around it may need some interpretation though, too.   :thinking:

[jabcat]

Wow, if you look at commentaries, there's a mix of what David and I said, views that it's about the birth of Christianity, views that it's just about the Jews, etc.  Kind'a like the denominations situation.   :mshock:  Well then...hmmm.

Do several surrounding chapters need to be considered, to get the overall context?  I'll look, but what's the "theme" around that part of Isaiah about?

[jabcat]

This is from a Bible Study by Gail Sanders.  It looks at more of the context of the chapter.  Totally accurate?  Not sure.

"This chapter is one of judgment and hope; a fitting last chapter since it shows both aspects of God's character, that of Just Judge, and Merciful Savior.

Read Isaiah 66:1-2.  The Jews are returning from the captivity and are now turning thoughts toward designing the new temple and reestablishing temple worship.  God reminds them that no man made building could ever be worthy of God, since His Presence fills all of heaven and earth.  God live in only one small building on earth?  It was absurd!  Solomon expressed the same feelings of awe and humility when he approached the task of building the original temple.  Read 1 Kings 8:27-29, 2 Chronicles 2:5-6.  Solomon understood that the purpose of the temple was to provide a place for God's people to worship and bring sacrifices.  He knew no building could house God.

Isaiah 66:6.  Jerusalem and the temple are restored and rebuilt and are filled with the sounds of ordinary life, a bustling, prosperous city.  But it was more than that.  The Jews, under Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, did subjugate many of their ancient adversaries.
We now have the analogy of the creation of the new nation of Israel as being like a woman giving birth.

Read Isaiah 66:7-8.  This is an unusual birth
- the baby is born without any labor pains!  What is going on here?  What is being described is the occupation of Jerusalem with a great number of returning Jews, the Babylonian exiles.  Almost over night a nation is born, something never before seen in history.  Nations are usually grown slowly, over time, like a woman being in labor for hours, but not with this second birth of Israel!

Read Isaiah 66:9.  I brought this all to pass, says God.  Now that the birth is coming, am I going to step in and stop it?  Of course not!  The second birth of Israel is inevitable:  it is coming.

Read Isaiah 66:10-11.   For those who love Jerusalem and have mourned over her devastated state, they will now rejoice at how she has been restored and is now prospering.  Jerusalem is now shown as a nursing mother, one who will bless and take care of those who love her.  She will have "spiritual milk" for all.  Read 1 Peter 2:2-3.

Read Isaiah 66:12.   God promises to bless Jerusalem not only with peace as wide and lasting as a river, but also with great wealth from the nations, that is, from the Gentiles.  An interesting contrast to point out is that here we have "the wealth of nations like a flooding stream" while way back in chapter 8 we have Assyria coming like a flood to destroy Israel.

Read Isaiah 8:7-8.  You get the feeling that all past curses or punishments are going to be turned into great blessings!

Read Isaiah 66:13.  God Himself will comfort the Jews and they will no longer be in mourning because of what happened to Jerusalem.  Their period of mourning will be over!

Read Isaiah 66:14.  "When you see this" - what is it that the Jews will see?  A restored Jerusalem, a new nation born over night with the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon.  "you will flourish like grass" is usually used to represent the shortness and fragility of life, but here God is using it to describing that time in early spring when grass is rejuvenated and that new green growth appears; it has new life and strength to it.  Seeing Jerusalem restored will cause the Jews to be, in a sense, reborn, and they will rejoice and recognize that it was the Lord's hand that brought this all about.  But though God is merciful and loving to His servants, He is an implacable judge to His foes.  We now move into a time of vengeance." - Gail Sanders

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/185405_in-depth-bible-study-notes-for-isaiah-661-14#ixzz0zqRykps2

Also some deeper layers and applications to us?  Or "just" for our learning?

[Paul Hazelwood]

I think it is making a comparison between the violent process that the earth took to form to our spiritual formation to perfection.  It is impossible that we become perfect without experiencing a type of painful process.

In my personal opinion I believe it also suggests that creation itself is alive in some way.

[CHB]

jabcat,

Thank you so much for taking the time to find something on this topic. Paul what you said was interesting also. If you all find something else please share it with me. Hoping others will give their input also.

A friend and I are studying this and they ask me to find all I could on it. I thought Tentmaket was a good place to start. I looked on the internet and couldn't find much about these verses.

My friend and I were thinking it might be a prophecy for the future but verse 7 sounds like the birth of Jesus but am not sure on this. Verse 8 has us puzzled along with what it says in verse 12 about "being born upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees".

CHB

[WhiteWings]

 8 Who has ever heard of such a thing?  Who has ever seen such things?

Verse 8 rebukes/mocks the idea's of verse 7.
So  the bad always proceeds the good. (Evening --> Morning)

[Quaesitor]

I can't see anything else than the birth of the new people of God under Jesus Christ.

"Who has ever heard of such a thing"
A sentence found associated with salvation as being something new.

[WhiteWings]

This is only part of God's plan of salvation that is for the few called now, Matthew 22:14. Few to God can mean multiple millions or even billions, Isaiah 66:7-9. This will be the first harvest of souls, Matthew 9:36-38, Leviticus 23:24-28.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Who-Are-The-Called-According-to-His-Purpose

[WhiteWings]

A Jewish view. http://checkpointbible.org/teaching/isaiah_bible_teaching.html

66:7-9) The birth of a new nation: most nations evolve gradually (over hundreds of years).  No other ancient nations ever ceased to exist for over 2,500 years and their return to become a nation.  Yet that was what Isaiah prophesied.  The nation of Israel was "born in a day" and became a nation again on May 15, 1948.  Note: The United Nations took the historic vote on November 29, 1947, sanctioning the rebirth of the state of Israel.

[WhiteWings]

http://knol.google.com/k/andy-deane/the-coolest-prophecies-of-the-bible/1o1q1w2sjaiuz/15#
The coolest prophesies of the Bible


• It would only take one day for Israel to be reborn (Isa. 66:7-9) Fulfilled on May 14, 1948

[WhiteWings]

http://teachinghearts.org/dre17hrev15.html  The last exodus.

[Cardinal]

http://knol.google.com/k/andy-deane/the-coolest-prophecies-of-the-bible/1o1q1w2sjaiuz/15#
The coolest prophesies of the Bible


• It would only take one day for Israel to be reborn (Isa. 66:7-9) Fulfilled on May 14, 1948

:cloud9:  Which is one reason why it's inconceivable to me that there are those who think the Israel that is, is "not Israel", ect. God said it, God did it. Fits to me.

And yes, I think it has spiritual applications, a message to the overcomers of today, just as all the other scriptures speak to those who have ears to hear (God gives the hearing ear). Blessings....