Isaías 56

1 Bendiciones para todas las naciones
Esto dice el Señor
:
«Sean justos e imparciales con todos;
hagan lo que es bueno y correcto,
porque vendré pronto para rescatarlos
y para manifestar mi justicia entre ustedes.

2 Benditos todos los
que se aseguran de cumplir esto.
Benditos los que honran mis días de descanso,
y procuran no hacer el mal.

3 »No permitan que los extranjeros que se comprometen con el Señor
digan:
“El Señor
nunca dejará que yo sea parte de su pueblo”.
Y no permitan que los eunucos digan:
“Soy un árbol seco, sin hijos y sin futuro”.

4 Pues esto dice el Señor
:
Bendeciré a los eunucos
que guardan como santos mis días de descanso,
que deciden hacer lo que a mí me agrada
y me entregan su vida.

5 Les daré —dentro de las paredes de mi casa—
un recordatorio y un nombre,
mucho más grande del que hijos o hijas pudieran darles.
Pues el nombre que les doy es eterno,
¡nunca desaparecerá!

6 »También bendeciré a los extranjeros que se comprometan con el Señor
,
quienes lo sirvan y amen su nombre,
quienes lo adoren y no profanen el día de descanso,
y quienes se mantengan fieles a mi pacto.

7 Los llevaré a mi monte santo de Jerusalén
y los llenaré de alegría en mi casa de oración.
Aceptaré sus ofrendas quemadas y sus sacrificios,
porque mi templo será llamado casa de oración para todas las naciones.

8 Pues el Señor
Soberano,
que hace volver a los marginados de Israel, dice:
Traeré a otros también,
además de mi pueblo Israel».

9 Condenación de los líderes pecadores
¡Vengan, animales salvajes de los campos!
¡Vengan, animales salvajes de los bosques!
¡Vengan a devorar a mi pueblo!

10 Pues los líderes de mi pueblo,
los guardianes del Señor
, sus pastores,
son ciegos e ignorantes.
Son como perros guardianes silenciosos
que no advierten cuando viene el peligro.
Les encanta estar echados, durmiendo y soñando.

11 Como perros glotones, nunca quedan satisfechos.
Son pastores ignorantes;
cada uno va por su propio camino
y busca ganancias personales.

12 «Vengan —dicen ellos—, consigamos vino y hagamos una fiesta.
Emborrachémonos todos.
¡Mañana lo haremos de nuevo,
y tendremos una fiesta aún más grande!».

Isaías 56 Commentary

Chapter 56

A charge to keep the Divine precepts. (1,2) Blessings promised. (3-8) Reproof to the careless watchmen, the teachers and rulers of the Jews. (9-12)

Verses 1-2 The Lord tells us what are his expectations of duty from us. Be honest and just in all dealings. Also strictly observe the sabbath day. To have the blessing of God upon employments all the week, make conscience of keeping the sabbath holy. Have nothing to do with sin. Blessed is the man that keeps his hand from all things displeasing to God and hurtful to his own soul. Those who, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith, will be found walking in ways of holy obedience.

Verses 3-8 Unbelief often suggests things to discourage believers, against which God has expressly guarded. Spiritual blessings are unspeakably better than having sons and daughters; for children are a care, and may prove a grief and shame, but the blessings we partake of in God's house, are comforts which cannot be made bitter. Those who love the Lord truly, will serve him faithfully, and then his commandments are not grievous. Three things are promised. Assistance: I will not only bid them welcome, but incline them to come. Acceptance, and comfort: though they came mourning to the house of prayer, they shall go away rejoicing. They shall find ease by casting their cares and burdens upon God. Many a sorrowful spirit has been made joyful in the house of prayer. The Gentiles shall be one body with the Jews, that, as Christ says, ( John 10:16 ) , there may be one fold and one Shepherd. Thanks be to God that none are separated from him except by wilful sin and unbelief; and if we come to him, we shall be accepted through the sacrifice of our great High Priest.

Verses 9-12 Desolating judgments are called for; and this severe rebuke of the rulers and teachers of the Jewish church, is applicable to other ages and places. It is bad with a people when their shepherds slumber, and are eager after the world. Let us pray the Great Shepherd to send us pastors after his own heart, who will feed us with knowledge, that we may rejoice in his holy name, and that believers may be daily added to the church.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 56

This chapter contains a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, and their accession to the church, and of the corrupt state of the church afterwards, especially of its rulers, which brought in men comparable to wild beasts to devour. It begins with an exhortation to the duties of judgment and justice, enforced by the nearness of Christ's salvation, and the clear relation of his righteousness in the Gospel, and by the blessedness of the man that does those duties, and lays hold on those blessings, and observes the whole of religion, instituted and moral, Isa 56:1,2, when encouragement is given to eunuchs, and strangers or Gentiles, sensible and religious persons, to hope for acceptance with God, and that they shall be welcome to his house, with an answer to their objections, and promises of special favours, Isa 56:3-7 to which is subjoined a promise or prophecy of future additions, both of Jews and Gentiles, to the church of God in the latter day, Isa 56:8 and then follows a call upon some savage people, comparable to wild beasts, to come and devour, which will be previous to the above prophecy, Isa 56:9, the reason of which is the sad corruption of the rulers of the church, their ignorance, negligence, avarice, and drunkenness, Isa 56:10-12.