Isaiah 56:1-5

C. WORLDWIDE IS THE INVITATION TO COVENANT RELATIONSHIP, CHAPTER 56
1. DISTINCTIONS DESTROYED

TEXT: Isaiah 56:1-5

1

Thus saith Jehovah, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness; 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 holdeth it fast; that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

3

Neither let the foreigner, that hath joined himself to Jehovah, speak, saying, Jehovah will surely separate me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

4

For thus saith Jehovah of the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant:

5

Unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

QUERIES

a.

Why single out the sabbath as a mark of righteousness?

b.

How could a foreigner join himself to Jehovah?

c.

Why would a eunuch be worried that he was a dry tree?

PARAPHRASE

This is what the Lord says, I am soon going to establish My covenant of salvation by grace through the Suffering Servant. It is your responsibility to enter into My covenant by doing justice and righteousness. Blessedness for all men shall be found in keeping My covenant according to My terms. All the former distinctions that hindered foreigners and eunuchs from full covenant relationship will be abrogated when My salvation through the Servant becomes a reality. So the Lord says, Let the foreigners and eunuchs be faithful in keeping My covenant terms out of a heart that chooses to do so, and I will give them a relationship to Me of much more value than any earthly blessing or reputation; I will give them an eternal reputation of blessedness.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 56:1-2 COVENANT ESPOUSED: On the basis of the Suffering Servant's atonement and the offer of a new covenant relationship through His accomplishment, the emphasis is now put on man's espousal or choice of that covenant. Jehovah's salvation is near! In His salvation, His righteousness will be revealed (cf. Romans 1:17; Romans 3:21-26). Logically, then, those who choose the benefits of His righteousness must accept the responsibility of such a choice which is to do righteously. Those who want the results of righteousness must practice righteousness! Practicing righteousness can be clearly defined! Doing what God's revealed covenant terms say is right and refraining from what God's covenant says is evil is practicing righteousness. The apostle John amplifies this principle in his writings (John 14:15; John 14:21; John 14:23; John 15:10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 2:24; 1 John 3:19-24; 1 John 4:6; 1 John 5:1-3, etc.). In our text here, Isaiah uses the sabbath as an example of man's obligation to keep God's covenant according to God's terms. Next to circumcision, the sabbath was the central sign of the covenant (cf. Exodus 31:13 ff; Ezekiel 20:12 ff). This does not mean the sabbath day was to be a commandment of the New Covenant which the Messiah would establish. Sabbath is used in a number of messianic prophecies to exemplify the prediction that members of the future messianic kingdom would be covenant-keepers instead of covenant-breakers like the Jews of the days of the prophets (cf. Isaiah 66:22-23; Ezekiel 44:24; Ezekiel 45:17; Ezekiel 46:3). Sabbath-day keeping in the New Covenant dispensation is definitely abrogated as a law of God since the O.T. ordinances were nailed to the cross (cf. Colossians 2:13-15; Hebrews 9:10; Hebrews 10:1, etc.). Sabbath-keeping is, at best, merely a matter of opinion in the New Dispensation (cf. Romans 14:1-12; Colossians 2:16-23). The use of the sabbath by Isaiah in this messianic text is a clear example of times-coloring in prophetic literature. How is a prophet 700 years removed from the messianic age to communicate the idea of sincere covenant-keeping to his audience? He must do it in terminology and practices contemporary with his own dispensation and age. Therefore, he idealizes the concept of covenant-keeping with one's sincerity in keeping the sabbath!

Isaiah 56:3-5 CONTEMPTIBLE EXALTED: Foreigners (nakerily, Heb.) and sojourners (ger, Heb.) might become citizens and members of the covenant people but they were prohibited from participating in full fellowship with the people of the land (cf. Exodus 12:43-49; Leviticus 16:29; Leviticus 17:12; Leviticus 18:26; Leviticus 22:10; Leviticus 25:35; Leviticus 25:40; Numbers 15:15; Numbers 16:29; Numbers 19:10; Numbers 35:15, etc.). Eunuchs were also barred from the temple of God (Deuteronomy 23:1). Naturally, when they heard Isaiah's magnificent predictions of the glorious messianic age to come they would assume second class citizenship to be their lot in that age also. Taking the case of the eunuchs first the Lord says they shall have an inheritance in the messianic kingdom in spite of the fact that they could produce no progeny. In the Jewish mind messianic inheritance was tied directly to the land and tribal inheritances. If a man could produce no offspring he had ho hope in the messianic future. But there will be no such limitations or hindrances to full favor in the messianic age. If men will keep God's covenant in the new dispensation and choose what pleases the Lord, they will be brought into God's house in full fellowship. Outward observance is not sufficient (Matthew 5:17 to Matthew 6:18; John 4:21-24; Matthew 15:1-19), the new covenant will be written on the heart (Jeremiah 31:31-34). In the messianic kingdom there will be no distinctions as to race, physical perfection, economic or educational status (cf. Galatians 3:23-29). All will be full-fledged sons of the covenant, descendants of Abraham according to faith, heirs of the promises of God (Ephesians 2:11-22, Romans 8:12-17, etc.). We have a specific example of the fulfillment of this in the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). Here is one eunuch indeed who has a name that is far more honored than it could have ever been by a long line of illustrious descendants. The primary reason for restrictions about sojourners and eunuchs in the O.T. was ceremonial uncleanness. But those who shall choose the covenant terms of the Messiah and keep them shall be cleansed of all defilement (ceremonial and moral) (cf. Zechariah 12:10 to Zechariah 14:21; Malachi 3:1-6; etc.).

QUIZ

1.

What salvation is predicted as near?

2.

Why the exhortation to keep justice and do righteousness?

3.

Is sabbath-keeping a literal requirement for the messianic age?

4.

What is times-coloring?

5.

What status did foreigners and eunuchs have in relationship to the O.T. covenant?

6.

How does Isaiah's promise to the eunuchs here fit in with N.T. doctrines?

7.

Cite an example of a eunuch in N.T. times being accepted into Christ's covenant.