Isaiah 56:1-8 (NIV)
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.”
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.”
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 Sovereign Lord declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.”
Reflection
The life changing difference between essence and form – most of Israel could not understand it. They were so stuck on self-righteously keeping rules and keeping others out of being God’s people, that they couldn’t understand the essence of faith – living in the sufficiency of God’s grace and mercy, experiencing His love and living in His presence for Him. And here, Isaiah declares a divine decree of radical change – “eunuchs and foreigners” who were outcasts and excluded by law will now have a place in God’s house of prayer. This points to the incredible truth that God invites all to receive and experience true hope and love and salvation that can only be found when we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. This invitation is for us to experience this every day and to share this blessing with others through the power of His presence with us, by the Holy Spirit.
Response
Let’s walk into the invitation daily and share the blessing we have. Let’s thank God for including us in His people. And let’s pray for those who are yet to be gathered - those God is giving our church and churches to minister to.
