Beasts of the field … beasts in the forest; i.e. "all wild beasts of whatever kind"—all the enemies of God's flock (see Jeremiah 12:9 ; Ezekiel 34:8 ). Come to devour. Make haste, now is your opportunity. The people have none to protect them, and will be an easy prey. Come, set to work; devour. read more
SECTION V.—A WARNING TO THE WICKED ( ISAIH , Isaiah 56:9 -57.). THE BLIND GUIDES OF ISRAEL REBUKED . A sudden change of style marks the introduction of an entirely new prophecy. The eye of the prophet, apparently, goes back from the period of the exile, which he has been so long contemplating, to his own day, or at any rate to the pre-exile period, and rests upon Israel in their own land. He sees them misled by their teachers ( Isaiah 56:10-12 ), given to idolatry... read more
When their spiritual guides go astray, the flock of Christ suffers Spiritual guides are bound to watch for the flock, as "they that must give account" ( Hebrews 13:17 ). It is ill for the flock when they are even negligent in their duties—still worse when they engage actively in evil courses. Israel's guides at this time were open to both charges, and are blamed on both accounts. Isaiah taxes them with being— I. BLIND GUIDES , destitute of spiritual wisdom and spiritual... read more
Unfaithful ministry. Three truths appear as we consider these strong words. I. THAT GOD HAS PLACED THE WELFARE OF THE MANY IN THE CHARGE OF THE FEW . Practically, the moral and material condition of the country in the course of the next twenty years depends greatly on the character of those of its citizens who are parents. The fathers and mothers in the land are determining its future to a large extent by their parental wisdom or folly. But we may narrow the... read more
His watchmen are blind . Israel's "watchmen" are his guides and teachers, the prophets ( Isaiah 6:1-13 :17; Ezekiel 3:17 ; Habakkuk 2:1 , etc.). At the time of which Isaiah speaks, they are "blind" ( Isaiah 29:18 ; Isaiah 35:5 ; Isaiah 42:7 , Isaiah 42:16 , Isaiah 42:18 , Isaiah 42:19 ; Isaiah 43:8 , etc.), or without knowledge—like the "blind guides" of the Gospel ( Matthew 15:14 ; Luke 6:39 , etc.). They have not the spiritual discernment which would enable them to... read more
Worthless shepherds. "Dumb dogs;" "Greedy dogs;" "Shepherds that cannot understand." The prophet's messages are in the main addressed to the pious and believing among the exiles. But he knows well how many of them were living in self-indulgence and sin, and were not in the least likely to heed his words, and prepare themselves for the coming deliverance. The evils were especially manifest in the leading people, who ought to have been leaders in goodness to the people. Instead of this,... read more
The Lord God - This verse is a continuation of the promise made in the previous verses, that those of other nations would be united to the ancient people of God. The sense is, that Yahweh would not only gather back to their country those who were scattered abroad in other lands, but would also call to the same privileges multitudes of those who were now aliens and strangers.Which gathereth the outcasts of Israel - Who will collect again and restore to their own country those of the Jews who... read more
All ye beasts of the field - This evidently commences a new subject, and refers to some invasion of the land of Judea. In the previous chapter, the prophet had comforted the people by the assurance of the coming of the Messiah, and by the fact that they should be enlarged by the accession of the Gentiles. He proceeds here to a more disagreeable part of the subject. The design is, to reprove particularly the sins of the rulers of the people, and to assure them that such conduct would incur the... read more
His watchmen - The prophet proceeds to specify the sins which had thus induced God to send the desolating armies of foreign nations. The first is specified in this verse, the apathy, indifference, and unfaithfulness, which prevailed among those who were appointed to guard their interests and defend the cause of truth. The word rendered ‘his watchmen’ (צפוּ tsophâv) is derived from צפה tsâphâh, “to look about; to view from a distance; to see afar.” It is applied appropriately to those who... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:8
The Lord God ; rather, the Lord Jehovah—Adonai Jehovah. An unusual phrase. Which gathereth together the outcasts of Israel ; i.e. the Lord who has pledged himself to bring back Israel from captivity, and to gather together Israel's outcasts from all regions ( Isaiah 11:11 ; Isaiah 27:12 , Isaiah 27:13 ; Isaiah 43:5 , Isaiah 43:6 , etc.). This same Lord now promises something further: "He will gather others also to Israel, besides his own gathered ones." Introduced with such... read more