August 2 - Isaiah 56:1-8

August 2 – Isaiah 56:1-8

This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.” And let not any eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.”

For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant— to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant— these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” The Sovereign LORD declares— he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”

God has always made provisions for His people.  But, in these verses, we discover that with great care, He made provisions for everyone, long before Christ died for our sins. 

Eunuchs weren’t allowed to enter the Holy of Holies (Deuteronomy 23:1), but when the Messiah returns, even they will be allowed into the temple and will be given an everlasting name.  God provides for them.

Foreigners were also excluded and had to adhere to strict rules (Deuteronomy 23:3, 7-8), yet here God provides for them by bringing them to His holy mountain – His house of prayer, which would be where they (we) can communicate with Him.

His temple – His house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.  No one will be excluded.  Everyone will be provided for.

He declares that He will not only gather the exiles of Israel, but others.

While we look at the Old Testament through the eyes of the Hebrews, we must also see that God has been preparing heaven for everyone on earth.   He created us all, He wants us all to join Him in heaven.