Isaiah 56
56
Joy for the Outcasts
1Yahweh says to his people:
“Promote the cause of justice!
Do what is just and right, # 56:1 Or “Cultivate righteousness.”
for soon my salvation will come
and my righteousness will be unveiled.
2Blessed is the one who will faithfully keep his commitment.
Yes, blessed is the one
who honors the Sabbath # 56:2 For believers today, our Sabbath is now a man, the Lord Jesus Christ. We rest in the finished work of the cross. We cease from our own labors and enter into his Sabbath rest. See Heb. 4. and does not disregard it,
and the one who keeps their hands from doing evil.”
3The foreigner who joins himself to Yahweh
should never say,
“Because I’m a foreigner,
Yahweh will exclude me from his people.”
And the eunuchs should never say,
“Because I can’t have children, I’m just a barren tree.” # 56:3 This is a figure of speech, comparing being unable to procreate to being like a withered tree. Eunuchs were forbidden to worship with God’s people (see Deut. 23:1), but God’s mercy triumphs over rejection.
4For Yahweh says to such a man,
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
and choose the things that honor me,
and remain true to my covenant, I make this promise:
5‘I will bestow upon them within my household # 56:5 Or “in my house and within my walls.” This becomes a figure of speech for God’s household or family, not a literal plaque in the temple.
both an honored place and an honored name,
even better than the honor that comes from having children. # 56:5 Or “a monument [memorial].” God is saying that grace is greater than our disqualifications. In spite of our imperfections, if we continue to honor God and his Word, favor will rest on our lives forever. This favor and name will endure longer than what comes from having children.
I bestow upon them my everlasting favor; # 56:5 Or “with an everlasting name.”
you will never be forgotten.’
6And to the foreigners who join themselves to Yahweh
to worship him, those who want to be his servants
and love the name of Yahweh—
all who honor the Sabbath and do not disregard it,
and who remain true to my covenant—I make this promise:
7‘I will welcome you into my holy mountain # 56:7 Yahweh’s holy mountain is the Zion-realm. See Heb. 12:22–24.
and make you joyful in my house of prayer. # 56:7 God’s desire has always been to gather his people into the house of prayer. See Matt. 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46.
I will accept every sacrifice and offering
that you place on my altar,
for my house of worship will be known
as a house of prayer for all people.’ ”
8The Lord God Almighty,
who brings home the outcasts of Israel, says,
“There are many others I will gather,
and I will add them to those who are already gathered.” # 56:8 See John 17:20–24.
Corrupt Leaders
9All you wild beasts, come and devour,
you wild animals of the forest.
10Blind watchmen, all of them!
They have no revelation-knowledge;
they’re like dumb dogs that don’t even bark—
dreaming, sleeping, devoted to slumber.
11They’re greedy dogs that never eat enough.
And the shepherds have no discernment;
they follow their own desires.
Every last one of them seeks his own profit.
12Each one says, “Let’s get wine and liquor and have a party!
And tomorrow, more of the same, except even better!” # 56:12 The Septuagint omits this verse.
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Isaiah 56: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 56
56
1Thus says the Lord:
“Keep justice, and do righteousness,
for soon my salvation will come,
and my deliverance be revealed.
2Blessed is the man who does this,
and the son of man who holds it fast,
who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it,
and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
“The Lord will surely separate me from his people”;
and let not the eunuch say,
“Behold, I am a dry tree.”
4For thus says the Lord:
“To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths,
who choose the things that please me
and hold fast my covenant,
5I will give in my house and within my walls
a monument and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
which shall not be cut off.
6“And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
every one who keeps the sabbath, and does not profane it,
and holds fast my covenant—
7 #
Mt 21.13; Mk 11.17; Lk 19.46. these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.
8Thus says the Lord God,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
I will gather yet others to him
besides those already gathered.”#56.8 Heb his gathered ones
9All you beasts of the field, come to devour—
all you beasts in the forest.
10His watchmen are blind,
they are all without knowledge;
they are all dumb dogs,
they cannot bark;
dreaming, lying down,
loving to slumber.
11The dogs have a mighty appetite;
they never have enough.
The shepherds also have no understanding;
they have all turned to their own way,
each to his own gain, one and all.
12“Come,” they say, “let us#56.12 One ancient Ms Syr Vg Tg: Heb me get wine,
let us fill ourselves with strong drink;
and tomorrow will be like this day,
great beyond measure.”
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