The Majority Of His People Will Reject Him For Their Idols And Will Receive Their Just Punishment (Isaiah 65:2-7).
On the other hand those who do claim to be called by His name, but are hypocritical, will be rejected and punished because of their unfaithfulness and idolatry.
“I have spread out my hands all the day,
To a rebellious people,
Who walk in a way that is not good,
After their own thoughts.'
In contrast with those in Isaiah 65:1 are these who have been the constant subject of God's appeals through Isaiah, who profess to be called by Yahweh's name, but have been rebellious and instead of walking by the covenant and the Law, have walked in a way that is not good, following their own ideas and desires. He has spread out His hands to them all day, that is unceasingly, but still they will not listen.
Note the reversal here of the usual position. Usually men stretch out their hands to God, but God had become so concerned for them that He had reversed the roles. It was not His fault if they did not respond.
‘A people who provoke me to my face continually,
Sacrificing in gardens and burning on bricks,
Who sit among the graves,
And lodge in the secret places,
Who eat swine's flesh,
And broth of abominable things is in their vessels,
Who say, “Stand by yourself,
Do not come near to me, for I am holier than you.”
These are a smoke in my nose,
A fire which burns all the day.”
He points out that the reason that they will not listen is because they are people who constantly provoke Him to His face by sacrificing and offering incense to false gods in the sacred gardens on rooftops and in sacred groves (Isaiah 1:29; Isaiah 66:17 compare 2 Kings 21:18). Both sacrificing in gardens (to Baal and Asherah) and burning on brick altars were forbidden (Exodus 20:25; Deuteronomy 27:5-6). (The descriptions here are of pre-exilic Canaanite religion, which evidence suggests ceased as a result of the Exile. The words cannot therefore be post-exilic).
‘Who sit among the graves, and lodge in the secret places.' This refers to consulting the dead and various occult practises. The infamy of what they did is revealed by their secrecy (compare Ezekiel 8:8-12).
‘Who eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels.' They deliberately partake of that which has been declared unclean, and what is socially abhorrent (see Isaiah 66:17). The broth of abominable things may refer to the eating on the third day of the meat of a peace sacrifice which has become bad, as described in Leviticus 7:18 as ‘abominable'.
‘Who say, “Stand by yourself. Do not come near to me, for I am holier than you.' This is speaking of elitist sects in which participants move from grade to grade and engage in ever more degrading ritual. They are exclusivist and divisive, and by their attitude reveal that they are heavily committed and dedicated to false gods. This may include the ‘one in the midst' of Isaiah 66:17.
‘These are a smoke in my nose, a fire which burns all the day.' Yahweh is not impressed by them. They are a continual smoke in His nose, something which makes Him want to splutter and spew them out. There may be here a contrast with the delightful aroma that arose to Him when offerings were made by the righteous (Genesis 8:21; Exodus 29:18; Exodus 29:25; Exodus 29:41).
“Behold, it is written before me,
I will not keep silence but will repay in full,
Yes, I will recompense in full into their bosom,
Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together, says Yahweh,
Who have burned (sacrifices or incense) on the mountains,
And blasphemed me on the hills,
Therefore will I measure into their bosom,
Their recompense for what they have formerly done.
The sins of these people and the similar sins of their fathers is written before Him, that is, it is permanently recorded and will therefore be permanently remembered. And He will not withhold action and do and say nothing. They will be paid in full. Yes, they will be paid in full and with personal effect (‘into their bosom'). So whoever are saved it will only be a remnant.
For they go into the mountains and hills to burn sacrifices and incense to Baal and Asherah. Their thought was that the nearer they got to the heavens the more likely that Baal would be forced to respond to their suggestive copulation But this is blasphemy against Yahweh. Therefore all will receive personally for what they have done. ‘Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together.' Unless we assume a resurrection of the wicked which Isaiah has nowhere mentioned the idea would seem to be that they suffer for their own sins and for the sins of their fathers to which they have acquiesced.
So while God has guaranteed that there will be a nation that survives, it will be a new nation. And large numbers of the old nation will face their necessary judgment. This is the inevitability, the necessary response of a Holy God.