Isaiah56
New International Version
1This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
2Blessed is the one who does this— the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”
3Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.”
4For this is what the Lord says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—
5to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.
6And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—
7these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
8The Sovereign Lord declares— he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”
9Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
10Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.
11They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain.
12“Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 56.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A charge to keep the Divine precepts. (1,2) . Blessings promised. (3-8). Reproof to the careless watchmen, the teachers and rulers of the Jews. (9-12).
vv1-2
The Lord tells us what are his expectations of duty from us. Be honest and just in all dealings. Also strictly observe the sabbath day. To have the blessing of God upon employments all the week, make conscience of keeping the sabbath holy. Have nothing to do with sin. Blessed is the man that keeps his hand from all things displeasing to God and hurtful to his own soul. Those who, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith, will be found walking in ways of holy obedience.
vv3-8
Unbelief often suggests things to discourage believers, against which God has expressly guarded. Spiritual blessings are unspeakably better than having sons and daughters; for children are a care, and may prove a grief and shame, but the blessings we partake of in God's house, are comforts which cannot be made bitter. Those who love the Lord truly, will serve him faithfully, and then his commandments are not grievous. Three things are promised. Assistance: I will not only bid them welcome, but incline them to come. Acceptance, and comfort: though they came mourning to the house of prayer, they shall go away rejoicing. They shall find ease by casting their cares and burdens upon God. Many a sorrowful spirit has been made joyful in the house of prayer. The Gentiles shall be one body with the Jews, that, as Christ says, John 10:16, there may be one fold and one Shepherd. Thanks be to God that none are separated from him except by wilful sin and unbelief; and if we come to him, we shall be accepted through the sacrifice of our great High Priest.
vv9-12
Desolating judgments are called for; and this severe rebuke of the rulers and teachers of the Jewish church, is applicable to other ages and places. It is bad with a people when their shepherds slumber, and are eager after the world. Let us pray the Great Shepherd to send us pastors after his own heart, who will feed us with knowledge, that we may rejoice in his holy name, and that believers may be daily added to the church.
Key Words
כֹּה: properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
שָׁמַר: properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
מִשְׁפָּט: properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
צְדָקָה: rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
קָרוֹב: near (in place, kindred or time)
יְשׁוּעָה: something saved, i.e. (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Isaiah 56Directly quotes "my house shall be called the house of prayer" when cleansing the temple.
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Excludes eunuchs and strangers from the congregation, which Isaiah 56 declares is now reversed.
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Fulfillment of the eunuch of Ethiopia turning to the Lord and being accepted under the Gospel.
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Paul's description of Gentiles, once far off, brought near through Christ, fulfilling inclusion of strangers.
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Jesus speaks of gathering other sheep not of this fold, fulfilling gathering of strangers.
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Highlights the Sabbath as a sign of God's covenant and holiness, parallel to Isa 56.
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Parallel text in Isaiah elaborating on what it means to keep the Sabbath from polluting it.
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Prophesies that God's name will be great among the Gentiles, with pure spiritual offerings accepted.
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Believers as a holy priesthood offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
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Declares that servant blessed whom his master finds doing his will upon his arrival.
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Exhorts believers to cleave unto the Lord with purpose of heart, parallel to joining oneself.
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Exhorts believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, the spiritual fulfillment of temple offerings.
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Uses identical imagery of calling the beasts of the field to assemble and devour.
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Contrasts the unfaithful blind watchmen with Ezekiel's charge as a faithful watchman for Israel.
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Condemns greedy heads who judge for reward and prophets who divine for money.
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Jesus denounces the scribes and Pharisees as "blind guides," matching Isaiah's description of blind watchmen.
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