56:1 This is what the Lord says, “Promote justice! Do what is right! For I am ready to deliver you; I am ready to vindicate you openly. 

 

Isaiah returns this chapter back to the people of Israel. Jehovah spoke through him and reminded the Jewish people to promote justice and do what is right. Jehovah was ready to deliver Israel, but was Israel ready to be delivered? Does Israel really want to be delivered, or does she want to continue living in her sin?

 

56:2 The people who do this will be blessed, the people who commit themselves to obedience, who observe the Sabbath and do not defile it, who refrain from doing anything that is wrong.

 

Those who live a righteous life would be personally blessed by Jehovah. The righteous life for the Jewish believer at this dispensation was the following of the Mosaic Law.

 

56:3 No foreigner who becomes a follower of the Lord should say, ‘The Lord will certainly exclude me from his people.’ The eunuch should not say, ‘Look, I am like a dried-up tree.’ ” 56:4 For this is what the Lord says: “For the eunuchs who observe my Sabbaths and choose what pleases me and are faithful to my covenant, 56:5 I will set up within my temple and my walls a monument that will be better than sons and daughters. I will set up a permanent monument for them that will remain.

 

During the Mosaic Law, the Moabites and Ammonites were not allowed to worship at the temple for ten generations. Eunuchs were forbidden to worship in the temple for all generations (For all three groups, see Deuteronomy 23:1-3). During the Millennial Kingdom, all Moabites, Ammonites, and eunuchs will not be forbidden from the Temple.

 

56:6 As for foreigners who become followers of the Lord and serve him, who love the name of the Lord and want to be his servants— all who observe the Sabbath and do not defile it, and who are faithful to my covenant— 56:7 I will bring them to my holy mountain; I will make them happy in the temple where people pray to me. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my temple will be known as a temple where all nations may pray.” 

 

During the Mosaic Law, foreigners were not allowed to offer sacrifices in the temple. There was a specific and separate court for the Gentiles. During the Millennial Kingdom, all Jews and Gentiles will be invited to the Holy Mountain to worship Jehovah.

 

Jesus quoted this verse when He expelled the money-changers. He said, "My temple is a place of prayer for all nations, but you are making it a den of robbers." Jesus was speaking in the future tense when He made this statement. It had not happened yet, but it will. This statement by Isaiah (and quoted by Jesus) was a Millennial-Kingdom prophecy.

 

One of the eunuchs who will worship in the Millennial temple will be the Ethiopian eunuch. Others are Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Many eunuchs were forced into their eunuch positions by evil kings.

 

It is important to note that the present-day church is far removed from its primary objective. The church has become like a suburban country club. It is serving good meals and creating good volleyball and softball teams. It talks a lot about fellowship, but there is little Bible study going on in these churches. There are few personal workers bringing the lost to the Lord. There are few teachers who are truly discipling their flocks.

 

56:8 The sovereign Lord says this, the one who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will still gather them up.” 

 

During the Millennial Kingdom, Jehovah will gather all of Israel back into her land. He will take the scattered Messianic Jewish believers from all of the Gentile nations and give the land to them which was promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

 

56:9 All you wild animals in the fields, come and devour, all you wild animals in the forest! 

 

According to Daniel 7, the wild beasts in the fields are Gentile nations. Jehovah was inviting the Gentile nations to devour Israel.

 

56:10 All their watchmen are blind, they are unaware. All of them are like mute dogs, unable to bark. They pant, lie down, and love to snooze. 

 

The blind watchmen of Israel were the teachers and leaders who led Israel astray. They were blind, because they were biblically ignorant. They were unaware of what was going on around them, because they lacked spiritual discernment. They refused to expose evil. They were unable to expose evil, because they did not possess enough spiritual insight to recognize it. They worked hard, thinking that their work was for God. However, their human good works were actually benefiting the satanic world system. Their Oral Law was a lot of work, but it was called by Jesus "the traditions of men." The leaders of Israel were in a spiritual stupor. They were asleep. They loved their sinful lifestyle. They were too lazy to study the Word of God. They were unaware of their biblical ignorance. They were not protecting the flock.

 

It is important to note that the modern church is in the same predicament as the dumb dogs of Israel. Liberalism came into existence, because cowardly conservative pastors would not teach against the liberals. When a pastor-teacher is really teaching the Word of God, then he will step on toes. He will expose evil. He will possess enemies, but he will gain the right kind of enemies. What Isaiah is saying is that the man who stands in the pulpit and will not give out the Word of God is a dumb dog. Isaiah says this by the Spirit of God. The dumb dog likes to lay down and sleep. He will not bark. He wants to please people. He is a danger to his flock, because he allows the beasts to slip in and devour the flock.

 

Many times, congregations look for the wrong kinds of pastors or elders. They want a friendly pastor who has a nice personality. He knows how to communicate to all age groups. He gives fun and entertaining messages. He is a good businessmen. He has a nice family. Some of these committees do not even test him to see if he can teach the Word of God. Because of a lack of this spiritual immaturity in the congregation, many dumb dogs are sent into the pulpits.

 

56:11 The dogs have big appetites; they are never full. They are shepherds who have no understanding; they all go their own way, each one looking for monetary gain. 

 

These dumb dogs have big appetites. They are never full. They lack biblical knowledge. They will say what their flock wants them to say, because they do not want a loss in their salary.

 

In Matthew 23, Jesus quoted this verse to denounce the leaders of Israel. Modern day pastors will often use this verse out of context for anti-Semitic purposes. Was Jesus anti-Semitic? He did not use this verse in the same context as many amillennialists and postmillennialists. Both of these groups are heretical, because they falsely teach that the church has replaced Israel.

 

56:12 Each one says, ‘Come on, I’ll get some wine! Let’s guzzle some beer! Tomorrow will be just like today! We’ll have everything we want!’

 

The religious leaders of Israel were addicted to alcohol. Their addiction to alcohol became more important to them than serving God.

 

Alcohol has brought down many nations. When leaders make important decisions at cocktail parties, then they place their nation in danger. Satan wants men so addicted to alcohol, that they lose interest in studying the Word of God. It takes a clear mind to understand the Scriptures. Alcoholism dulls not only the mind, but the internal motivation as well. Alcohol changes priorities for the worst. Man needs to addict himself to the study of the Word of God, not alcohol.