Isaiah 56
Summary for Isa 56:1: 56:1–66:24 a This last major division of the book of Isaiah brings together themes from chs 1–39 b (sin, justice and righteousness, responsibility, vengeance and vindication) and chs 40–55 c (salvation, the age to come).Summary for Isa 56:1-8: 56:1-8 d This section summarizes chs 1–55 e with an invitation to the outcasts to participate in God’s redemption. 56:1 f Be just and fair: A key aspect of the message of chs 1–39 g is the call for justice in relationship with others and God. True godliness comes only through having character that is shaped by the character of God, which only happens by understanding and consistently applying God’s word.
• I am coming soon: This statement summarizes the message of chs 40–55 h, that the Lord is creating a world of harmony, peace, restoration, vindication, and the removal of enemies (46:13 i).
56:2 j Blessed: Cp. 30:18 k; 32:20 l; see also Pss 1:1 m; 119:1 n; Matt 5:3 o.
• The Sabbath, as a sign of the covenant (Exod 31:13-17 p), is God’s gift to his people; it belongs to this age as well as to the age to come (Isa 56:4 q, 6 r; 58:13-14 s; see Heb 4:1-13 t).
Summary for Isa 56:3-7: 56:3-7 u The blessing (56:2 v) would extend to eunuchs and to the Gentiles. 56:3 w Foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord would become full participants in the covenant community. Previously, their participation had been carefully regulated (Deut 23:3 x, 7-8 y).
• eunuchs: In the past, an emasculated person was excluded from the community (Deut 23:1 z). Both eunuchs and foreigners had no share in Israel’s holiness and were considered marginal to God’s kingdom. In the age to come, God would bring to the center those who had previously been marginalized (cp. Matt 20:16 aa).
56:4 ab The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant (Exod 31:13-17 ac).
56:5 ad within the walls of my house: Those previously excluded would have a place in God’s presence.
• a memorial and a name: Everlasting existence in God’s presence is better than the blessing of physical descendants.
56:6 ae The essential ingredient for covenant fellowship is love for God (Deut 6:5 af; 30:20 ag; Matt 22:34-38 ah).
• Keeping the Sabbath is a sign of keeping the covenant itself (see Exod 31:13-17 ai).
56:7 aj burnt offerings and sacrifices: God had previously rejected sinful Israel’s expressions of piety (1:11-13 ak) but would welcome offerings from righteous Gentiles or foreigners. Nationality is worth little without true piety.
• a house of prayer for all nations: The Lord would open the doors of the Temple to all nations (see 2:2-4 al). Jesus rebuked the people for desecrating the Temple and for preventing it from functioning as the house of prayer (Matt 21:13 am; Mark 11:17 an).
56:8 ao The outcasts of Israel were those dispersed among the nations as the result of the Exile (see also 11:12 ap).
• The others would be eunuchs and Gentiles (56:3-7 aq; see also 57:19 ar; John 10:16 as).
Summary for Isa 56:9-57:13: 56:9–57:13 at This is a reflection on the prevalence of evil among God’s people; they were greedy (56:9-12 au), hostile to the righteous (57:1-2 av), and idolatrous (57:3-13 aw). 56:9 ax Wild animals are here a metaphor for the hostile nations surrounding Judah.
56:10 ay The leaders of Israel failed to guide and protect God’s people from the sins that led to the Exile.
• sleeping and dreaming: See 29:10 az.
56:11 ba ignorant shepherds: Israel’s leaders did not know how to rule in a godly way (see also Ezek 34:1-6 bb). By contrast, the Lord is the faithful Shepherd of his people (Isa 40:11 bc).
• all following their own path: They had no concern for God or his standards of godly leadership (see also 53:6 bd).
• personal gain: Cp. 33:15 be.
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