This chapter in the prophetic book of Isaiah can be broken down and understood like this:

• Verses 1-4 – The apostates and their wicked worship
• Verse 5 – The remnant suffering and encouraged
• Verse 6 – The sudden manifestation of the Lord
• Verses 7-9 – The nation’s rebirth
• Verses 10-14 – Jerusalem’s supremacy and glory
• Verses 15-18 – The warning of judgment
• Verses 19-21 – The regathering after judgment
• Verses 22-23 – The blessings for the righteous
• Verse 24 – The destiny of the wicked

I do encourage our readers to read this interesting and encouraging chapter.  Since you asked about verses 16-17, let’s look at that.  Let’s read Isaiah 66:15-16, “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.”

What a great and terrible day that will be when the Lord returns to execute judgment on a world that has rejected Him and His work of grace.  This reminds me of what we read in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”  This fire will be a “flaming fire taking vengeance…”  This will result in everlasting destruction (punishment) for those who reject the Lord.  Isaiah mentioned earlier in Isaiah 30:30, “And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.”  How blessed it is to know that those who know Christ will enjoy that eternal rest!

Verse 17 mentions those who sanctify themselves.  “They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.” This means they ATTEMPT to sanctify themselves.  These are those who try to purify themselves by idolatrous rites, by cleansings, and acts seeking to make themselves pure and holy. This verse describes those who will be exposed to the wrath of God when He comes to execute vengeance.  These religious, self-righteous ones will have to face the Lord Jesus, the One who Himself died to save sinful people.  We read of this type of people in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  As to the gardens, Isaiah mentions this back in Isaiah 65:3.  That says, “A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick.”

These people, who certainly have earned the wrath of God, in order to sanctify or consecrate themselves participate in the most abominable and heathenistic practices.  Of course, the eating of swine was particularly forbidden among the Lord’s people as we read in Leviticus 11:7, “And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.”  (Concerning the mouse, read Leviticus 11:29-31.)  My friends, it is so dishonoring to the Lord when people seek to justify themselves by doing the very things the Lord detests and prohibits.  How many things can you think of today that are celebrated and honored in society, but is condemned by God’s Holy Word?  May we realize the authority of the Bible and allow it to teach us what is holy and what is profane.  May the Lord show each of us that there is only ONE way to salvation and true sanctification.  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6.)  (CC)  (694.4)