Tyndale Open Study NotesIsaiah 56

This last major division of the book of Isaiah brings together themes from chapters 1–39 (sin, justice, righteousness, responsibility, vengeance, and vindication) and chapters 40–55 (salvation and the age to come).

This section summarizes chapters 1–55 with an invitation to the outcasts to participate in God’s redemption.

• Maintain justice and do what is right: Isaiah 1–39 emphasize the importance of justice in relationships with others and God. True godliness comes from having a character shaped by God's character, achieved by understanding and consistently applying God's word.

• My salvation is coming soon: This summarizes the message of Isaiah 40–55, where the Lord is creating a world of harmony, peace, restoration, vindication, and the removal of enemies (Isaiah 46:13).

• Blessed: Compare Isaiah 30:18; 32:20; see also Psalms 1:1; 119:1; Matthew 5:3.

• The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant (Exodus 31:13–17), and is God's gift to his people. It applies to both the present age and the age to come (Isaiah 56:4, 6; 58:13–14; see Hebrews 4:1–13).

The blessing (56:2) would extend to eunuchs and to the Gentiles.

• Foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord would become full members of his covenant community. In earlier times, their participation had strict limits (Deuteronomy 23:3, 7–8).

• eunuch: In the past, a man who had been emasculated was not allowed to take part fully in the community (Deuteronomy 23:1). Both eunuchs and foreigners were seen as outside Israel’s holiness. They were considered on the edge of God’s people.

  But in the age to come, God would bring those on the margins to the center. Those who were once excluded would be welcomed and honored (Matthew 20:16).

The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant (Exodus 31:13–17). It shows the special relationship between the Lord and Israel.

• in My house and within My walls: Those once excluded will have a place with God.

• a memorial and a name: Everlasting existence in God’s presence is better than the blessing of physical descendants.

• The essential thing required for covenant fellowship is love for God (Deuteronomy 6:5; 30:20; Matthew 22:34–38).

• Keeping the Sabbath is a sign of keeping the covenant itself (see Exodus 31:13–17).

• burnt offerings and sacrifices: In the past, God rejected Israel’s offerings when the people were living sinful lives (Isaiah 1:11–13). Their worship did not please him because their hearts were not right.

  But God would accept offerings from righteous gentiles, that is, people from other nations who truly follow him. Being part of a certain nation does not matter if a person does not truly honor God.

• a house of prayer for all the nations: The Lord would open the temple to all nations (see Isaiah 2:2–4). Jesus criticized the people for disrespecting the temple and preventing it from being a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17).

• The outcasts of Israel were people scattered among other nations due to the exile in Babylon (see also Isaiah 11:12).

• The others included eunuchs and non-Jews (Isaiah 56:3–7; see also 57:19; John 10:16).

This passage reflects on how common evil had become among God’s people. Many of them were greedy and wanted more and more for themselves (Isaiah 56:9–12). They treated righteous people with hatred and violence (Isaiah 57:1–2). They also worshiped idols instead of the true God (Isaiah 57:3–13).

Wild animals are here a metaphor for the hostile nations surrounding Judah.

• The leaders of Israel failed to guide and protect God’s people from the sins that led to the exile in Babylon.

• dreamers … loving to slumber: See Isaiah 29:10.

• shepherds with no discernment: Israel's leaders did not know how to rule in a godly way (see also Ezekiel 34:1–6). In contrast, the Lord is the faithful shepherd of his people (Isaiah 40:11).

• they all turn to their own way: They did not care about God or his standards for leadership (see also Isaiah 53:6).

• his own gain: Compare Isaiah 33:15.