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Overview

YHWH is the God of love. His love extends to all those who join themselves to Him. Even the eunuchs, the outcasts, the marginialized. Isaiah 56 reminds us of this magnificent truth. 

Isaiah 56:3-5

Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.

For the Gentile, a non-Jewish person, this section must be so encouraging. Also, for the outcast, the marginalized—this must bring them a sigh of relief. There is room for them at the table! 

It is interesting that Isaiah brings up the eunuch. Eunuchs were denied full participation in temple rituals. And yet, YHWH is reminding the Eunuch that if they keep the Sabbath and hold fast to His covenant—they will experience eternal joy in His presence. In a sense, we are like the Eunuch, separate, outcasts—because of the stain of the original sin. But God sent His Son to give us a seat at the table. To provide a way to come home. This section also reminds us that the world may treat us as outcasts or even some Christians sadly—but not God. This is why, even in the church, we need to keep our eyes focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our Faith. 

Isaiah 56:9-12

All you beasts of the field, come to devour— all you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all. “Come,” they say, “let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure.”

Isaiah 56 shifts once again to addressing the hypocrisy of Israel’s leadership. Isaiah calls them “blind, without knowledge, shepherds with no knowledge”. Pretty strong words. But leaders are always held to a higher standard. Their example and testimony can either help or hurt the spiritual trajectory of a nation. Obviously, Israel’s leaders are failing. Verse 12 says it all. In spite of all that is going on, they say this, “Come, let me get wine and strong drink. Tomorrow will be a great day.” The leadership is taking no responsibility and quite frankly, they are lying to themselves. Why should tomorrow be better? The nation is disobedient, heading toward disaster. Isaiah is right. They are terrible shepherds. 

This is a powerful reminder to today’s Christian leaders, but also to the rest of us. Keep your eyes focused on Christ. He is the only One who won’t ever let you down. Look to Him and Him alone today.