Isaiah 56:1-12

ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD’S SPECIAL SERVANT ISAIAH CHAPTER S 49 TO 57 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 56 GOD’S PEOPLE WILL INCLUDE ALL NATIONS V1 (This is what the *Lord says to his people.) ‘Be honest. Be fair. Do what is right. Very soon I am coming to save you. My action will be plain... [ Continue Reading ]

Isaiah 56:2

The *Sabbath is a new subject in the Book of Isaiah (see Isaiah, chapter 56:2; 56:4; 56:6; also 58:13 and 66:23). • After the *exile, ‘to keep *Sabbath’ was an important mark of membership in God’s people (see Ezekiel 20:12; Ezekiel 20:20; also Ezekiel 22:26).... [ Continue Reading ]

Isaiah 56:2-6

To be born as a *Jew is to be a member of the *Lord’s *covenant people. But the responsibilities of that membership include the need to obey the *Lord. That is much more important to God than someone’s birth as a *Jew.... [ Continue Reading ]

Isaiah 56:3

In particular, God’s people were not to do any work on the *Sabbath. This copied God’s own decision not to work on the day after he had created the world (see Genesis 2:2 and Exodus 20:8-11). • The first Christians replaced the *Sabbath (Saturday) by Sunday, the first day of the week. This was to m... [ Continue Reading ]

Isaiah 56:4

Jesus used the word ‘*eunuch’ to describe one who does not marry, so as to be free to serve God (see Matthew 19:12). • Isaiah 54:1-3 contains a similar promise for women without children. Men and women do not need to have families in order to receive a relationship with God. and that relationship w... [ Continue Reading ]

Isaiah 56:5

The *Jews considered that to have a large family was a sign of God’s pleasure (see Psalms 127:3-5). • In the original language, the word ‘honour’ here translates the very common word for ‘open hand’. This meaning suggests that God gives generously and without limit as the reward for people’s trust.... [ Continue Reading ]

Isaiah 56:7

Jesus refers to the *Temple as the ‘House for Prayer for all nations’ (see Mark 11:17). ISRAEL’S LEADERS ARE GUILTY V9 Some other people are also coming from foreign countries. And they are coming like wild animals from the forest that are hungry for food. The *Lord says to them, ‘Come and eat! V... [ Continue Reading ]

Isaiah 56:9

God has invited the foreigners to ‘eat’ Israel’s leaders. In the *Old Testament, ‘eat’ is often a picture word to mean ‘destroy’ or ‘kill’.... [ Continue Reading ]

Isaiah 56:10

Israel’s leaders do not lead. They are unable to see what is happening in society. The leaders are like dogs that are too lazy to bark in order to warn their owners of trouble.... [ Continue Reading ]

Isaiah 56:11

Rulers were often called ‘*shepherds’, because it was their duty to take care of their people (see 2 Samuel 24:17; 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:2) LORD ~ God’s name in the Bible; in the original language, it means ‘head over all’ and ‘God always’. SABBATH ~ the seventh day of the week, when people were... [ Continue Reading ]

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