Isaiah study & commentary

Isaiah 56:1-2

Isaiah instructs them to 'keep' and 'do' the two fundamental values of the Lord and expected from the people; justice and righteousness.  While they will experience many things with the Lord in bringing them through exile and preserving the remnant, the full blessing of the promised redemption and salvation was yet to come.  This is the life of taking heed, guarding our steps and abiding in Him.

Isaiah 56:3-5

The foreigner who trusted in the Lord should not feel as though he were an outsider, as if he weren't a child of God also.  The eunuch shouldn't feel damaged or broken as if he weren't good enough.  While these two were kept from worship as the Jews worship, they were still, nevertheless, welcomed as God's children.  He had a place for them (in the many mansions prepared).  They would also receive a name, the name was their identity; who they were and who they belonged to.  This name would live on.  This was culturally important to the eunuch who had no offspring to carry his name forward. 

Isaiah 56:6-8

Even the sons of foreigners who want to serve and join themselves to the Lord in service will be received.  This is a radical change from the law as they knew it, yet Solomon spoke of it when dedicating the temple (1 Kings 8:41-43).  These gentiles will come to the to God's holy mountain, the temple mount.  Their offerings and sacrifices will be received.  This wasn't allowed by the law, this is clearly part of the new covenant of peace Isaiah spoke of.  The outer court of the temple was the place of prayer for the gentiles, yet, by Jesus' day it had become a marketplace.  This is the passage quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:12-13. 

While the Lord gathers the outcasts of Israel, as promised in so many places, He will also gather others – us. 

Isaiah 56:9-12

Most people would fear the approach of the beasts and take care to not to allow one in the vicinity of their home.  God invites the beasts to come and devour.  He was preparing a great sacrifice, a great offering feast for the beast.  Judgment was coming by the hand of the Babylonians.  The same picture is shown in Revelation 19:17.  It was the job of the watchmen to keep an eye out for the beasts, but they were sleeping, not paying attention, lulled into safety.  Yesterday was safe, last week and last month were safe, therefore today must be safe also.  These are the leaders of Israel, greedy dogs when they were supposed to be shepherds.  It was always about them; their own way, for their own gain from their own territory.  Not only had they failed to do their job, they intoxicated themselves and spoke of their blind and baseless faith that tomorrow would be better than today.  Yet, judgment was coming.

©2018 Doug Ford