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More Isaiah commentaries
Isaiah 53:1-12
Humiliation of the Servant
Isaiah 54:1-17
Blessing of the Restored Nation
Isaiah 55:1-13
Blessings of the Nations
Isaiah 56:1-12
Inclusion of the Gentiles
Isaiah 57:1-13
Condemnation of Idolaters
Isaiah 57:14-21
Compassion of the Repentant
Isaiah 58:1-14
Restoration of True Worship
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Inclusion of the Gentiles
Isaiah 56:1–12
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
In Yorkshire, England, during the early 1800s, two sons were born to a family named Taylor. The older one set out to make a name for himself by entering Parliament and gaining public prestige. But the younger son chose to give his life to Christ. He later recalled, “We … More
God commanded His people to rest and honor Him on the Sabbath (Ex 20:8-11). For the Israelites this special day was the Sabbath (Saturday) (vv. 1-2). He wants us to serve Him every day, but he wants us to make one day special when we rest and focus our thoughts on Him. Many Christians today accept Sunday (the day of the week that Jesus rose from the dead) as the Lord’s day, a day of rest and honoring God.Isaiah clearly proclaims that believing foreigners will be blessed (vv. 3-8). Redeemed Gentiles, though not in the covenant family of Israel, can still receive God’s blessing. Even foreigners and eunuchs who join themselves to the Lord are welcome. They show their devotion and honor to the Lord by their service, worship, and obedience. God promised Abraham, through him all peoples of the world will be blessed (Gen. 12:3).
The watchman were the nation’s leaders. The leaders of Israel were blind to every danger (vv. 9-11). Apathetic about their peoples needs, they were more concerned about satisfying their own needs. Leader’s special privileges can cause leaders either to sacrifice for the good of their people or to sacrifice their people for their own greed. Concerned only with their own pleasure, they failed to consider that judgment will come (v. 12).
Application
Whatever your race, social position, work, or financial situation , God’s blessings are as much for you as for anyone else. I must never exclude in any way those God chooses to include.
Isaiah 56:1-12 (English Standard Version)
Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely separate me from his people"; and let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. "And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant-- these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, "I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered." All you beasts of the field, come to devour-- all you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all. "Come," they say, "let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure."
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