Isaiah 56

Salvation for the Gentiles

1 Thus says the Lord:

"Keep justice, and do righteousness,

*Is. 46:13; Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Rom. 13:11, 12For My salvation is about to come,

And My righteousness to be revealed.

2 Blessed is the man who does this,

And the son of man who lays hold on it;

*Ex. 20:8–11; 31:13–17; Is. 58:13; Jer. 17:21, 22; Ezek. 20:12, 20Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,

And keeps his hand from doing any evil."

3 Do not let *Is. 14:1; (Eph. 2:12–19)the son of the foreigner

Who has joined himself to the Lord

Speak, saying,

"The Lord has utterly separated me from His people";

Nor let the *Deut. 23:1; Jer. 38:7; Acts 8:27eunuch say,

"Here I am, a dry tree."

4 For thus says the Lord:

"To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,

And choose what pleases Me,

And hold fast My covenant,

5 Even to them I will give in *1 Tim. 3:15My house

And within My walls a place *(1 John 3:1, 2)and a name

Better than that of sons and daughters;

I will give them an everlasting name

That shall not be cut off.

6 "Also the sons of the foreigner

Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him,

And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—

Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,

And holds fast My covenant—

7 Even them I will *(Is. 2:2, 3; 60:11; Mic. 4:1, 2)bring to My holy mountain,

And make them joyful in My *Matt. 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46house of prayer.

*(Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:5)Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

Willbe*Is. 60:7accepted on My altar;

For *Matt. 21:13My house shall be called a house of prayer *(Mal. 1:11)for all nations."

8 The Lord God, *Ps. 147:2; Is. 11:12; 27:12; 54:7who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says,

*Is. 60:3–11; 66:18–21; (John 10:16)"Yet I will gather to him

Others besides those who are gathered to him."

Israel’s Irresponsible Leaders

9 *Jer. 12:9All you beasts of the field, come to devour,

All you beasts in the forest.

10 His watchmen are*Matt. 15:14blind,

They are all ignorant;

*Phil. 3:2They are all dumb dogs,

They cannot bark;

Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

11 Yes, theyare*Is. 28:7; Ezek. 13:19; (Mic. 3:5, 11)greedy dogs

Which*Ezek. 34:2–10never have enough.

And they are shepherds

Who cannot understand;

They all look to their own way,

Every one for his own gain,

From his own territory.

12 "Come," onesays, "I will bring wine,

And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating *Is. 28:7drink;

*Ps. 10:6; Prov. 23:35; Is. 22:13; Luke 12:19; 1 Cor. 15:32Tomorrow will be *2 Pet. 3:4as today,

And much more abundant."