By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 56

AN EXHORTATION TO RIGHTEOUSNESS IN VIEW
OF DIVINE DELIVERANCE

   Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
   Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

    1. In view of the deliverance that the Lord is about to give them (46:13; Psa. 85:9), and the manifestation of His righteousness, in such victory as He will permit them to share, the exiles of Israel are urged to:
      a. Maintain justice - by trusting in, and submitting themselves wholly to God's order, (1:17; 61:8; 5:16; 28:17; Jer. 22:3).
      b. Walk in righteousness and obedience before God, (62:1-2; Zeph. 2:3; comp. Rom. 13:11-12; Matt. 4:17).
    2. The person who follows God's order will truly be blessed (vs. 2). And, in the view of ancient Israel, such a walk was summed up in two things:
      a. Observing the divinely-appointed sabbath - wherein one acknowledges Jehovah.
        1) As the omnipotent Creator of all things, (Ex. 20:11; 31:17).
        2) As the Sanctifier of His own peculiar people - setting them apart for His own service, glory, and praise, (Ex. 31:13; Ezek. 20:12).
        3) As the deliverer of His people from bondage, (Deut. 5:15).
      b. Keeping himself from evil, (Psa. 34:14; 97:10; Pr. 4:27; 14:16).
    3. Proselytes and eunuchs, who have been denied many privileges in the worship of the nation (Deut. 23:1) will not be inferior in the new order that is to come, (vs. 3:5).
      a. The "son of the stranger" (proselyte) must not say that "The Lord hath utterly separated me from His people", (vs. 3a; Acts 10:34-35; Eph. 2:14-16).
      b. Nor must the eunuchs regard themselves as insignificant because they can have no offspring, (vs. 3b; comp. Deut. 23:1).
        1) The Lord is pleased with any who: observe the sabbath that He has appointed; sacrifice their own will and pleasure for His; and lay firm hold on His covenant-purpose.
        2) A proper attitude toward God and His will assures the believing one a place in God's "house" (2:2-3; Mic. 4:1-2; comp. I Tim. 3:15), and a "name" that is more lasting than that of being the father of children, (vs. 5; 62:2; comp. 48:18-19; Jn. 1:12; 10:3; I Jn. 3:1; Rev. 2:7; 3:12).
      c. Such as truly honor the Lord will be permitted to share His millennial "house" (habitation, or dwelling-place), which is Jerusalem - wherein He will sit on the throne of His glory, (Psa. 122; 132:13-14; comp. Isa. 2:1-4; Mic. 4:1-3).

   Also the sons of the strangers that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

    1. In verse 6 Isaiah sets forth certain spiritual conditions whereupon Gentiles may share the fullness of God's blessings in His coming kingdom.
      a. They are to be joined to (identified with) the Lord as His servants, (John 12:26).
      b. They are to love His name - joyfully yielding themselves under His authority, (Jn. 14:21-23).
      c. They are to keep the sabbath with pure hearts, (vs. 2, 4).
      d. And they must take hold of His covenant - approving His high and holy purpose.
    2. These will be brought to His holy mountain (Jerusalem) and made joyful in His "house of prayer" - His house being called "a house of prayer for all people", (comp. Matt. 21:13; Lk. 19:46).
    3. The Lord will gather unto Himself more than the "outcasts of Israel"; He will also take from the Gentiles a people who will glorify His name, (vs. 8; 60:3-11; 66:18-21; John 10:16; etc.).

   All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

    1. Isaiah sees the faithless watchmen of Israel turning aside from their appointed duties, (vs. 10; comp. Ezek. 3:17-19).
      a. They are blind - with no understanding of the imminent dangers confronting the nation, (29:9-14; Jer. 14:13-14).
      b. They are "dumb dogs" - unable to sound a warning!
      c. They are slothful dreamers - lying down, and loving to slumber, (Nahum 3:18).
    2. Without understanding (1:3), the shepherds of Israel have turned to their own ways - each seeking his own profit; greedy dogs, whose lust for gain is never satisfied, (vs. 11; 57:17; Isa. 28:7; Ezek. 13:19; Micah 3:5, 11).
      a. Rather than caring for the sheep, they live to pamper the desires of their own flesh - giving themselves over to wine and strong drink, (vs. 12a; 5:11-12, 22).
      b. Forgetting God, and their responsibility before Him, they assume that tomorrow will be just as today - only BETTER! (vs. 12b; Psa. 10:4-6; Luke 12:16-21).
    3. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Lord calls the beasts of the field and forest (representing Gentile powers) to come and devour them all, (vs. 9; 46:11).
      a. Those who have been given the responsibility to shepherd one of God's flocks must take their stewardship seriously; they must NEVER attempt to "lord it over" God's people, or to forget their welfare in pursuit of worldly profit.
      b. The very first requirement of a steward is that he be found FAITHFUL! (I Cor. 4:2).