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 for all to see.

v2 Happy are those people who do not use my holy *Sabbaths for wrong purposes. And happy too are people who avoid all evil actions. v3-4 A foreigner who has joined the *Lord’s people may also *worship the *Lord with his people. So also may a *eunuch who *keeps my holy *Sabbaths. And who pleases me by his life and obeys the instructions in my law. v5 I will give him a name in my *Temple in *Jerusalem. That name will be far greater than the honour of a family that has many sons and daughters. And that name will last for always. It will never disappear.

v6 I am speaking about foreigners who have joined themselves to my special people. These foreigners love the *Lord’s name and they *keep his holy *Sabbaths. They have accepted his *covenant and his promises. v7 I will bring them to my holy mountain in *Jerusalem. And I will fill them with joy in my *Temple where my people pray to me. I will accept their gifts upon my *altar. For that reason my *Temple will be called “The House for Prayer for the benefit of all the nations”.’

v8 This is the message from the *Lord God. He is gathering together his people who were prisoners in a foreign country. ‘I am also adding many other people to their number.’