8. Jehovah will not only restore the scattered outcasts of Israel (Isaiah 11:12; Psalms 147:2) to their own land, but "will gather others ('strangers') to him (Israel), besides those gathered" (Margin, "to his gathered"; that is, in addition to the Israelites collected from their dispersion), (John 10:16; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 2:19). read more
The basis of acceptance and blessing 56:1-8This transitional pericope introduces the problem that the previous sections of the book posed, which I have tried to explain just above. It also begins the explanation of the solution by placing in stark contrast two opposing views of what pleases God: simply being a child of Abraham, versus living in loving obedience to God. read more
Similarly, God would bless foreigners (non-Israelites) who came to believe in Yahweh, and sought to love and follow Him for His sake rather than for personal benefit (cf. Ruth 1:16). They could serve the Lord by ministering to Him. The Hebrew word translated "minister," sharet, usually describes priestly service (cf. Isaiah 60:7; Isaiah 60:10; Isaiah 61:6). Foreigners might even serve the Lord in ways that would be as significant as serving as priests in Israel, though that particular ministry... read more
With an unusually strong declaration (cf. Isaiah 1:24), sovereign Yahweh affirmed that He would gather many other Gentiles to Himself along with the Israelites (cf. Isaiah 19:25; Isaiah 49:6-7; Isaiah 51:5; Isaiah 55:5; John 10:16). He would not save only Israelites, but Gentiles as well. The new revelation, or mystery, concerning the relationship of Jews and Gentiles in the church (Ephesians 2-3), was not that God would save Gentiles as well as Jews. It was that in the church He would deal... read more
1, 2. Further conditions to be observed that men may share in the approaching deliverance. 1. Keep ye.. justice] i.e. keep the law, and practise righteousness. 2. Layeth hold on] RV ’ holdeth fast by.’ Polluting] RV ’profaning.’3-7. The privileges of the people of God are open to all, even to those who think themselves excluded by race, or by physical disability (Deuteronomy 23:1). The sabbath appears to have been more strictly observed in the BabyIonian period than it had been under the... read more
This section is not so argumentative in tone as the last. Its distinguishing feature is the development of the prophet's teaching concerning the Servant of Jehovah. The conception seems to arise, as has been noted, with the nation considered collectively as a Servant of God (Isaiah 41:8-9; Isaiah 44:1-2, Isaiah 44:21; Isa 45:4). So long as the attitude and work of God in relation to the nation are solely in view, there is no limitation of the idea; but when the nation's work and attitude to Him... read more
(7) Even them will I bring . . .—The words foreshadow the breaking down of the “middle wall of partition” (Ephesians 2:14). Every privilege of the Israelite worshipper is to belong also to the proselyte. It is perhaps assumed that the proselyte is circumcised. The development of truth is in such cases gradual, and it was left for St. Paul to complete the work of Isaiah (Romans 2:26-29; Galatians 6:15). read more
(8) The Lord God . . . saith.—The phrase is the normal one for introducing an oracle of special importance. This, so to speak, was to be one of the “faithful sayings” of Isaiah. We can hardly fail to find in John 10:16 a deliberate reproduction of Isaiah’s thought. The first clause refers clearly to the gathering of the heathen as following on that of the “outcasts” of Israel. read more
7, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-8CHAPTER XXIION THE EVE OF RETURNIsaiah 54:1-17, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-8ONE of the difficult problems of our prophecy is the relation and grouping of chapters 54-59. It is among them that the unity of "Second Isaiah," which up to this point we have seen no reason to doubt, gives way. Isaiah 56:9-12 is evidently pre-exilic, and so is Isaiah 59:1-21. But in chapters 54, 55, and Isaiah 56:1-8 we have three addresses, evidently dating from the Eve of the Return.... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 56:7
7. Even them— ( :-). to my holy mountain—Jerusalem, the seat of the Lord's throne in His coming kingdom (Isaiah 2:2; Jeremiah 3:17). joyful— (Jeremiah 3:17- :). burnt offerings . . . sacrifices—spiritual, of which the literal were types (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5). accepted— (1 Peter 2:5- :). altar— (1 Peter 2:5- :), spiritually, the Cross of Christ, which sanctifies our sacrifices of prayer and praise. house . . . for all people—or rather, "peoples." No longer restricted to one... read more