Excerpt - Apocalyptic Commentary of the Book of Isaiah by Avraham Gileadi, Ph.D.

66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, you who are vigilant for his word; your brethren who abhor you, and exclude you because of my name, say, Let Jehovah manifest his glory, that we may see cause for your joy! But it is they who shall suffer shame.

Jehovah's servants-"who are of a humble and contrite spirit and who are vigilant for my word" (v 2)-come under censure by ecclesiastical authorities who feel threatened by their zeal for Jehovah. Such self-righteous "brethren" ('ahekem) "abhor" or "hate" (son'ekem) their zealous counterparts and "exclude" or "thrust [them] out" (menaddekem) from among them, humiliating them. In the end, however-after it has served Jehovah's purpose of refining his servants and testing their loyalties-their momentary shame (Isaiah 61:7) turns into their persecutors' everlasting shame (Isaiah 41:11; 65:15).
The descent phase of those who are ostracized by abusive authorities thus resembles that of Jehovah's servant, whom they similarly "abhor" and accuse (Isaiah 49:7; 50:8-9). Both, moreover, follow the pattern of Jehovah himself, whose descent phase includes prosecution by unrighteous authorities (Isaiah 53:7-9). The latter mock Jehovah's servants by asking them to produce some divine "manifestation" or sign that justifies their joy-filled zeal: "Let him quickly speed up his work so we may see it! Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel soon come to pass, and we will know!" (Isaiah 5:19; cf. 45:11).

66:6 Hark, a tumult from the city, a noise from the temple! It is the voice of Jehovah paying his  enemies what is due them.

An incident in the temple of his people's city results in Jehovah's house being set in order as Jehovah turns the tables on his people's ecclesiastical leaders (cf. Jeremiah 23:1-2; Ezekiel 34:10; Zechariah 11:15-17). Together with other reprobates among his people, they are numbered among Jehovah's "enemies" and incur his wrath: "They rebelled and grieved his holy Spirit, till he became their enemy and himself fought against them" (Isaiah 63:10; cf. 1:24; 42:13; 59:18). Jehovah's voice-his servant whom he empowers (Isaiah 30:30-31; 50:10; 58:1)-pays them their "due" or "just reward" (gemul).