A future promised land is coming, an eternal one. Here that land is described. In this land the Messiah is Conqueror; the foreigner and vulnerable are protected.
Some see a distinct change in tone in chapters 56-66. Now Isaiah looks at the land from within, after the exile and return.
Isaiah 56:1-2, Maintain justice
This is what the LORD says:
“Maintain justice
and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
Blessed is the one who does this—
the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,
and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”
The Israelites are encouraged to focus on justice and righteousness -- and to protect the foreigners bound to YHWH.
Isaiah 56:3, The vulnerable and despised
Let no foreigner who is bound to the LORD say,
“The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.”
And let no eunuch complain,
“I am only a dry tree.”
The foreigner and eunuch, both often invisible or despised, have a place in God's kingdom. Once again, even the Gentiles are invited to partake in the riches of God. In the covenant law (see Deuteronomy 23:1-3) eunuchs and certain foreigners were prohibited from entering the assembly of God. Here that prohibition is overturned.
Isaiah 56:4-7, Foreigners and eunuchs
For this is what the LORD says:
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me
and hold fast to my covenant—
to them I will give within my temple and its walls
a memorial and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that will endure forever.
And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD
to minister to him,
to love the name of the LORD,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.”
The passage expands on the role of the vulnerable foreigners and eunuchs. The temple will be a house of prayer for all nations, a refuge for Gentiles!
In the culture of the ancient Near East, one was valued for size of their flocks and the number of children he/she produced. In this culture, a eunuch was especially ashamed and so this promise welcomes the eunuchs who follow YHWH and keep His sabbath.
Jesus quotes this passage when He cleans the moneychangers out the temple -- see Matthew 21:12-13.
Isaiah 56:8, Still others
The Sovereign LORD declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.”
Beyond the gathered exiles are other people, other nations. They too will be gathered to Jerusalem.
Isaiah 56:9-12, Drunken watchmen
Come, all you beasts of the field,
come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
Israel’s watchmen are blind,
they all lack knowledge;
they are all mute dogs,
they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream,
they love to sleep.
They are dogs with mighty appetites;
they never have enough.
They are shepherds who lack understanding;
they all turn to their own way,
they seek their own gain.
“Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!
Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,
or even far better.”
The tone changes here -- the people who are supposed to be watchmen are not doing their jobs; they are drunk with beer and think that every day will be the same. Here the promised kingdom is, once again, being threatened by selfish and lazy leaders.
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