ISAIAH
CHAPTER 56
All who keep the commandments shall be exalted—The sons of strangers will join Israel—The Lord will gather others to the house of Israel.
1 THUS saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, [ Observing the Sabbath is characterized as the embodiment of worshiping the Lord, cp. 58:13-14. Observing the Sabbath is also a sign between Israel and the Lord, cp. Exod. 20:8-11, 31:12-17 and 34:18-24. It is important to note that the Sabbath included more than just Saturday, it also included the three divinely instituted festal ingatherings (i.e. Passover, Weeks, Tabernacles) to the Temple as dictated in Lev. 23. Thus, the Sabbath is intrinsically linked with
Temple worship, hence the connections in v. 5-7. ] and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
Temple worship, hence the connections in v. 5-7. ] and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
3 ¶ Neither let the son of the stranger, [ "foreigner", the Hebrew is "ben-hannekar" variously translated as "foreigner", "alien", "foreigner by birth", "foreign in the nation". So he was not born of covenant Israel(he is a Gentile). ] that hath joined ["attached", the AB renders this term "joined" and states, "Heb. hannilwah may contain a play on the name Levi; the foreigners are admitted to [temple worship] (v. 7). This would imply that it is the 'joining' that makes the genuine worshipper of Yahweh, not merely carnal descent from Levi." Also cf. 66:21 where gentiles are not only admitted, but are taken as priests and Levites. ] himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: [ The Lord's people is Israel. ] neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. [ This lament is derivative of Abraham's, cf. Gen. 15:2 and the WB states, "life without posterity is life without blessing". To the Semitic mind, one with no offspring is cursed, cf. 4:1. ]
4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs [ A typical OT covenant curse - eunuchs can have no children hencce they are cut off from the blessings of posterity ] that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; [ The quotes attributed to the foreigner and eunuch and the subsequent lifting of the prohibitions in the Law could be used by equation via Lev. 21 and Deut. 23 to say that all persons formerly prohibited under the Law are now admitted. The lifting of these prohibitions obviously assumes the Law of Moses has been fulfilled or superseded, cf. 3 Ne. 15:2-10. ]
5 Even unto them will I give in mine house [ The Temple. ] and within my walls [ The Temple. ] a place and a name better [ A new name - one that endures (an everlasting name) beyond the name given to children by their earthly parents. ] than of sons and of daughters: [ From the eunuch's complaint in v. 3e of "I am a withered tree" and the obvious Temple context we would assume that the temple theme of eternal lives (i.e. the begetting of spirit offspring) is being addressed here. So long as the eunuch abides the temple covenant then he may inherit celestial glory and eternal increase even though he will have no mortal children. This may seem a bit of a stretch, but the numerous references to Abraham/Israel's inheritance and adoption of the gentiles as offspring in the preceding chapter tends to present both a literal physical as well as literal spiritual context to offspring issues. While there is no direct reference to eternal lives here, it may well be implied.
We may also develop the interpretation of this being a reference to being a part of natural Israel, i.e. "I will give you a name in My House that is better than naturally inheriting the name Israel by birth". ] I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, [ To serve him and to love the name of the Lord as members of the church they are to love the Lord as we are to be his servants. We start as servants before we can ever become heirs we have to prove that we're worthy servants and followers of Christ everyone that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it.] and to love the name of the LORD,to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, [ Observing the Sabbath is equated with holding fast to the covenant by parallel. Once again the observation of the Sabbath is emphasized. ] and taketh hold of my covenant; [ My Covenant is the gospel. Here the foreigner is allowed into full fellowship based on their willingness to abide by the covenants of the Lord. All membership and participation issues are completely behavior based. ]
7[ Jesus quoting this verse in the Temple and immediately before the cleansing of the Temple further evidence the liturgical symbols to the temple. ] Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, [ Which is to say the temple. ] and make them joyful in my house of prayer: [ My Temple which is a house of revelation. ] 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. [ All worthy men and women who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and live his laws are invited to enter his house. All nations are allowed to worship at the House of the Lord cp. 2:2, 54:11-12, 60:4-5, 66:12. Paul got into some trouble over letting gentiles into the Temple, cf. Acts 21:28, ct. Ezek. 44:6-9. ]
8 The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others [ The Gentiles. ] to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
10 His watchmen are blind: [ What good is a blind watchmen? consider the irony of the symbol here in this verse which is obviously intended to be interpreted in a figurative spiritual manner - talking about the religious leaders of Israel and Judah] they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. [ Referring to mindless daydreaming as oppossed to inspired visions and direct revelation.]
11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: [ Religious leaders of Israel and Judah. The leaders are described as self-seeking and either not knowing or not caring what their responsibilities are. ] they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, [ Deliberately self-seeking as opposed to being ignorantly or naively led astray. Thus emphasizing their willful rebellion. For similar statements describing the apostate leaders among Israel, cp. Ezek. 34:1-10, Amos. 6:4-7, Micah 3:1-3. ] from his quarter.