Verse 1 is a challenge to our thinking. So often we think we can do God's work for Him. We think we can build temples where God can live, whether we are talking about physical structures or organisations and schemes. Yet who made the whole world? Who called everything into being?
Then we get the answer, we get the attitude we are meant to have. "These are the ones I look on with favour, those who are humble and contrite in spirit and who tremble at my word". Jesus said "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). This is the attitude we should have. We need to recognise God for who He is, we need to repent of our sins, and we need to tremble at God's word, to know that His word is all powerful.
Verses 3 and 4 are quite amazing, for they are, at least at face value, a rejection of the whole sacrificial system. And note that these words were written several hundred years before Jesus came. In the New Testament, of course, we know that the old sacrificial system was done away with, now that Jesus is the once for all sacrifice.
Those who follow God were persecuted. This seems to have happened in Isaiah's day, and it certainly happened in the days of the early church. Those who were doing the persecuting thought they were serving God, but God assures His people that they will be vindicated.
Then we get the answer, we get the attitude we are meant to have. "These are the ones I look on with favour, those who are humble and contrite in spirit and who tremble at my word". Jesus said "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). This is the attitude we should have. We need to recognise God for who He is, we need to repent of our sins, and we need to tremble at God's word, to know that His word is all powerful.
Verses 3 and 4 are quite amazing, for they are, at least at face value, a rejection of the whole sacrificial system. And note that these words were written several hundred years before Jesus came. In the New Testament, of course, we know that the old sacrificial system was done away with, now that Jesus is the once for all sacrifice.
Those who follow God were persecuted. This seems to have happened in Isaiah's day, and it certainly happened in the days of the early church. Those who were doing the persecuting thought they were serving God, but God assures His people that they will be vindicated.
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