Isaiah 56

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:6

Service. "The sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him," etc. This word is often degraded in human speech. "Service" is con-sidereal humiliating, and only mastership is glorious. But "the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." We are all of us " debtors" to others; we owe them much, and we owe Christ all. I. SERVICE CALLS OUT WHAT IS BEST IN MEN . 1 . Their unselfishness . 2 . Their heroism . 3 . Their ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:7

My house of prayer. In Solomon's address to God at the dedication of the temple, its character, as a house of prayer, is abundantly laid down ( 1 Kings 8:29-53 ). And no doubt it was used for the purpose of prayer, as well as for the purpose of sacrifice, from its first erection to its final destruction. But the purpose of sacrifice so far predominated, in fact, over the other, that the expression, "my house of prayer," comes upon us in this place to some extent as a surprise. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:7

God's house of prayer for everybody. "Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." These words were quoted by the Lord Jesus when he drove out the shopkeepers who defiled the temple (see Matthew 21:13 ). The prophet declares that the "prayers and praises (those spiritual sacrifices) of devout Gentiles shall be as pleasing to God as those of the pious Jews, and no difference shall be made between them; for, though they are Gentiles by birth, yet through grace they shall be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:9

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:9-12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:9-12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:9-12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:10

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:10-12

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

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