Isaías 56

Salvación para los demás

1 Así dice el SEÑOR:«Observen el derechoy practiquen la justicia,porque mi salvación está por llegar;mi justicia va a manifestarse.

2 Dichoso el que así actúa,y se mantiene firme en sus convicciones;el que observa el sábado sin profanarlo,y se cuida de hacer lo malo».

3 El extranjero que por su propia voluntadse ha unido al Señor, no debe decir:«El SEÑOR me excluirá de su pueblo».Tampoco debe decir el eunuco:«No soy más que un árbol seco».

4 Porque así dice el SEÑOR:«A los eunucos que observen mis sábados,que elijan lo que me agrada,y sean fieles a mi pacto,

5 les concederé ver grabado su nombredentro de mi templo y de mi ciudad;¡eso les será mejor que tener hijos e hijas!También les daré un nombre eternoque jamás será borrado.

6 Y a los extranjeros que se han unido al SEÑORpara servirle,para amar el nombre del SEÑOR,y adorarlo,a todos los que observan el sábado sin profanarloy se mantienen firmes en mi pacto,

7 los llevaré a mi monte santo;¡los llenaré de alegría en mi casa de oración!Aceptaré los holocaustos y sacrificiosque ofrezcan sobre mi altar,porque mi casa será llamadacasa de oración para todos los pueblos».

8 Así dice el SEÑOR omnipotente,el que reúne a los desterrados de Israel:«Reuniré a mi pueblo con otros pueblos,además de los que ya he reunido».

La acusación de Dios contra los malvados

9 Animales del campo y fieras del bosque,¡vengan todos y devoren!

10 Ciegos están todos los guardianes de Israel;ninguno de ellos sabe nada.Todos ellos son perros mudos,que no pueden ladrar.Se acuestan y desvarían;les encanta dormitar.

11 Son perros de voraz apetito;nunca parecen saciarse.Son pastores sin discernimiento;cada uno anda por su propio camino.Todos, sin excepción,procuran su propia ganancia.

12 «¡Vengan, busquemos vino!¡emborrachémonos con licor!—gritan a una voz—.¡Y mañana haremos lo mismo que hoy,pero mucho mejor!»

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.