What does "I will choose their punishments" reveal about God's justice? Setting the Scene Isaiah 66 closes the book with a stark contrast between those who humbly tremble at God’s word and those who persist in hypocrisy. Verse 4 is God’s verdict on the latter: “I also will choose their punishments and will bring upon them what they dread, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they did not listen. They did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.” (Isaiah 66:4) Observations from the Phrase “I will choose their punishments” • God reserves the right to select the exact form, timing, and weight of discipline. • The judgment is neither random nor delegated; it proceeds from His own deliberate decision. • The punishments correspond to the people’s own choices—He “chooses” in response to what they have chosen. • The word “punishments” (lit. “delusions” or “treatments”) implies consequences tailored to expose the folly of their rebellion. • God’s initiative underscores His sovereignty: the same God who elects to bless (Deuteronomy 7:6–8) elects to judge. What This Teaches about God’s Justice • Justice is Personal – It comes from the personal God who knows every motive (Jeremiah 17:10). • Justice is Precise – He “chooses,” indicating measured, fitting retribution (Romans 2:5–6). • Justice is Proportional – Punishment answers specific sins (“they did evil… and chose that in which I did not delight”). • Justice is Unavoidable – Because God selects it Himself, no human scheme can evade it (Psalm 94:1–2). • Justice is Righteous – His moral perfection guarantees that His choice is never excessive or deficient (Genesis 18:25). • Justice is Revelatory – By tailoring punishments, God exposes both sin’s seriousness and His own holiness (Isaiah 5:16). Supporting Passages • Leviticus 26:23–24 — “I Myself will punish you sevenfold for your sins.” • Proverbs 1:24–26 — Wisdom laughs when calamity comes because the simple rejected counsel. • Romans 1:24, 26, 28 — God “gave them up” to the very desires they insisted on, a judicial handing over. • Galatians 6:7 — “God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” • Revelation 18:6 — Babylon receives “double according to her deeds.” Application for Believers Today • Take God’s warnings seriously; delayed judgment is not denied judgment. • Respond promptly when He calls—“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). • Pursue choices that delight the Lord, lest we invite corrective discipline (Hebrews 12:6). • Rest in the certainty that God’s justice, though sometimes hidden, will finally be manifest and perfectly executed. |
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