Conclusion of Jehovah Reaches Out to "a Stubborn People"

The stubborn Jews have repeatedly provoked Jehovah by their disgraceful conduct.  Jehovah describes their offensive actions:  "The people made up of those offending me right to my face constantly, sacrificing in the gardens and making sacrificial smoke upon the bricks, seating themselves among the burial places, who also pass the night  even in the watch huts, eating the flesh of the pig, even the broth of foul things being in their vessels; those who saying 'Keep close to yourself.  Do not approach me, for I shall certainly convey holiness to you.'  These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire burning all day long." (Isaiah 65:3, 5) These seemingly pious ones are offending Jehovah 'right to his face'-an expression that may imply audacity and disrespect.  They make no effort to conceal their abominations.  is it not especially reprehensible to commit sins in the very presence of the One who ought to be honored and obeyed?

These self-righteous sinners are, in effect, saying to other Jews: 'Keep your distance, for I am holier than you.'  What hypocrisy! Those "pious" ones are offering sacrifices and burning incense to false deities, which God's Law condemns. (Exodus 20:2-6)  They are sitting among the burial places, which makes them unclean according to the Law.  (Numbers 19:14-16)  They are eating the flesh of the pig, an unclean food.  (Leviticus 11:7)  Yet, their religious activities make them feel holier than other Jews, and they want other people to keep away so that these will not become sanctified, as it were, or clean, by mere association.  Nevertheless, that is not at all how the God who exacts "exclusive devotion" views matters! -Deuteronomy 4:24.

Rather than considering these self-righteous ones to be holy, Jehovah says: "These are a smoke in my nostrils."  The Hebrew word for "nose" or "nostril" is often used figuratively for anger. Smoke too is associated with Jehovah's burning anger.  (Deuteronomy 29:20)  The disgusting idolatry into which his people have fallen has provoked Jehovah's burning anger. 

In his justice, Jehovah cannot let these willful sinners go unpunished.  Isaiah writes:  " 'Look!  It is written before me.  I shall not keep still, but I will render a reward; I will even render the reward into their own bosom, for their own errors, and for the errors of their forefathers at the same time,'  Jehovah has said. 'Because they have made sacrificial smoke upon the mountains, and upon the hills they have reproached me, I will also measure out their wages first of all into their own bosom.' " (Isaiah 65:6,7) By engaging in false worship, these Jews have reproached Jehovah.  They have made worship of the true God appear to be no better than that of the nations around them.  "For their own errors," including idolatry and spiritism, Jehovah will recompense them "into their own bosom." The expression "bosom" evidently refers to a gathered fold of the upper garment that formed a pouch where vendors might pour a measured amount of produce.  (Luke 6:38)  For apostate Jews, the meaning is clear-Jehovah will measure out their "reward.," or punishment.  The God of justice will exact retribution.  (Psalm 79:12; Jeremiah 32:18)  Since Jehovah does not change, we can be confident that in his due time, he will measure out punishment in a similar way on this wicked system of things. -Malachi 3:6.

 Next time: "For the Sake of My Servants"

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001