“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”
My Notes
What Does Isaiah 66:2 Mean?
God responds to the temple question from verse 1 with a declaration of what he actually values: the person who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at his word. Not buildings. Not sacrifices. A humble heart that takes God's word seriously.
"All those things hath mine hand made" — God made everything. The heavens, the earth, the temple materials. It all belongs to him. A building made from materials he created cannot impress the creator.
"But to this man will I look" — God directs his attention. He looks — not at the impressive, the powerful, or the accomplished. He looks at the poor, the contrite, and the trembling.
"Poor and of a contrite spirit" — material poverty and spiritual brokenness. The person who has nothing to offer and knows it. The person whose spirit has been crushed and is honest about it.
"Trembleth at my word" — takes God's word with absolute seriousness. Not casually. Not academically. Trembling — the reverent, awed, fear-filled response to the voice of God.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Why does God look at the poor and contrite rather than the impressive and accomplished?
- 2.What does 'trembling at God's word' look like practically?
- 3.How does knowing God made everything relativize what we try to offer him?
- 4.Where are you trying to impress God with externals when he is looking for a humble heart?
Devotional
To this man will I look. God looks somewhere specific. Not at the temple. Not at the sacrifice. Not at the impressive display of religious devotion. He looks at a person.
Him that is poor and of a contrite spirit. Poor — having nothing. Contrite — broken, crushed, aware of their own emptiness. This is who God looks at. Not the self-sufficient. Not the accomplished. The poor and the broken.
And trembleth at my word. Takes God seriously. Not casually. Not as one opinion among many. Trembles. The word of God produces reverent fear — not terror but the shaking awareness that what God says matters infinitely.
All those things hath mine hand made. God made everything. The materials. The building. The cosmos. You cannot impress the creator with his own materials. But you can get his attention with a humble heart.
The combination is the key: poverty (nothing to bring), contrition (broken enough to be honest), and trembling at God's word (taking him seriously enough to shake). That is what draws the gaze of God.
God is looking somewhere right now. And the place he looks is not the most impressive gathering. It is the most humble heart. Is that yours?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
For all those things hath mine hand made,.... The heavens and the earth, which are his throne and footstool; and…
For all those things hath mine hand made - That is the heaven and the earth, and all that is in them. The sense is, ‘I…
And all those things have been "And all these things are mine" - A word absolutely necessary to the sense is here lost…
Here, I. The temple is slighted in comparison with a gracious soul, Isa 66:1, Isa 66:2. The Jews in the prophet's time,…
all these things] i.e. the heavens and the earth, the whole visible creation. That the phrase refers to the Jewish…
Cross References
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