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Isaiah 56 - "This is what the Lord says" - and with these words Isaiah Chapter 56 opens, and this is one of the main reasons why we gather together - to hear what the Living God says. What does the Lord God have to say to us today - as a Fellowship or as individual disciples of Jesus Christ?

It is interesting how Paul taught the disciples in Corinth what do to do when they gathered together – 1Corinthians 14verse 26 .

This is GOD speaking – so pay attention – and get a better view of GOD – acquire a better understanding of GOD. Many can say many things - some of these things which a man says may have some value - but what the Lord Jesus Christ says - what God says - has eternal value.

What God says is always right - and His words always give light - along with many other avenues of blessing – and God's Word is always spoken in love - even when they are words of warning and words of rebuke.

His Words are words of truth. The words of the Living God can come to us in various ways - challenging - soothing - healing - reassuring - comforting - commanding - but they are always a source of deep blessing when willingly received. Haven't we found that over the years?

His Words give us motivation for living - and His Words, and His Words alone, give purpose and meaning to life. Jesus said - Unless you forsake all that you have you cannot be My disciple - now that is pretty strong language. It is a challenge which is demanding - a challenge which involves sacrifice - a challenge which involves commitment.

Jesus Christ offered so much - but His demands are on the same level as what He offered.

Have you noticed that God never has a sale - God never reduces the price. If you want what Paul had you have to pay what Paul paid.

Verse 1 – "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand - and my righteousness will soon be revealed." We see here in verses 1to 8 , a righteous GOD who welcomes all contrite sinners.

God is about to bring His people back - they have been prisoners in Babylon for 70 years. The invitation has gone out to those who are thirsty - and to the hungry - and to be satisfied you do not need any money – Isaiah 55 .

But once you have begun to hear the word of the Lord - once you have begun to drink and eat - if you want to continue to enjoy the blessings of God - maintain justice - do what is right. These are big words, and they are being spoken to the people of God.

My salvation is close at hand. There is a sense of placing your hand in the Hand of God - just put your hand in My Hand - and My Righteousness will soon be revealed.

When God brings His people back there is salvation and blessing.

“Justice” and “Righteousness” are words which appear often in these chapters of Isaiah – and if this does not happen there can be catastrophic judgment. God provides the righteousness and then He tells us what to do.

If you are wondering about to-morrow - put your hand in My Hand today - and I will reveal My Righteousness to you - the right way to walk - the right way to decide - the right thing to do - the right way to go - to-morrow - if you put your hand in mine today.

God is speaking to people who have returned to HIM – 55 verses 6,7 . Before we can receive God's richest blessings - we have to return to Him. If we want to live in God's blessings - we have to make that decision to live in God - to live in Jesus - to be a visible physical member of the Body of Christ - and filled with the Holy Spirit - carrying out whatever the Head of the Body says and commands and instructs.

Verse 2. Blessed is the man who does this. Again, notice how simple God's Word is. There are passages which are hard to understand - but let's not make clear passages obscure - let's not make simple passages difficult.

We have been reading of - Come to me all who are thirsty and hungry - listen, listen to me - pay attention - eat what is good - give ear - have life - seek the Lord - call on Him - let the wicked forsake his way - let him turn to the Lord - and receive mercy and pardon and forgiveness.

It is only then that a man has that ability to lead a moral life. To receive the blessing of God there has to be blamelessness on the part of man. One of the things that marked out a man of God in Israel was that he kept the Sabbath Day. These people had not kept the Sabbath Day - they had been thinking on the Sabbath of how they could begin trading with their false weights as soon as the Sabbath was over.

For us it is the importance of Worship and being at Worship, and enjoying whatever rest is appropriate.

As God was about to bring His people back to Jerusalem there were two groups over which hung a question mark - foreigners and eunuchs.

Verse 5 – To prevent captives from multiplying some men were robbed of their power and ability to reproduce – they were castrated - and such a man was not permitted to enter into the House of God. But the situation had changed - and our God is full of mercy - and the Lord speaks specifically to such men. As you have kept my Sabbaths - as you have worshipped Me - as you have chosen to please Me - as you have held fast to My promises - even though men have done terrible things to you - you can come into My Temple. You can enter and worship - and have a name better than sons and daughters. I will not regard your physical disabilities - but rather your spiritual faithfulness. You will be remembered for your spiritual obedience. You have suffered, but I will remember and reward you – God gives eunuchs a PROMISE!

Verses 5 – This is the verse which gives its name to the YAD VASHEM Memorial in Jerusalem - where those who lost their lives in the Holocaust have a place where their name is remembered – a Memorial and a Name.

“I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off .”

God can take barren useless oddities – and use them.

Verse 6 – There was a second group - the foreigners - strangers - or Gentiles.

When Israel was in captivity she remembered Jerusalem - her faith - her prayers - her songs - and some Babylonians were influenced. What would happen to them? The Lord had a word for those who had newly come to Him - loving His name - keeping the Sabbath - holding fast to the Covenant - to the Promises.

Verse 7 - such faithful people can come to Zion - I will bring them to My holy hill and give them JOY in MY HOUSE OF PRAYER.

It is good to know that Jesus brings you here, because then, you can look to Jesus to give you JOY as you worship and praise HIM. God saw that there would be a court for the Gentiles - a place where people who were not Jews could come and pray and worship and praise His Name.

When Jesus came - that court of the Gentiles was filled with traders and money changers - it was like a market place - and Jesus quotes from Isaiah 56 .

Jesus was angry that it was now impossible for Gentiles to come into the Temple in Jerusalem to pray - and Jesus took time to make a whip of cords - and He lashed out at the people who were abusing and misusing the place of prayer. God always has room for those who hear His Word and keep His Covenant.

Verses 7,8 – God has a promise for foreigners – but those who should have been paying attention to His Word and keeping His Promises were not - and God has to deal with them. Notice the sudden change in Isaiah's tone - did you discern the sudden change of atmosphere?

God is warning some of Israel's so-called leaders that they may not get back to Jerusalem. The wounded and crushed - and strangers and foreigners - would be welcomed into the House of God - and led into the House of God - and they would experience JOY - but those who should have known better are issued a stern warning.

Verses 9 to 11 - God had given Israel leaders - prophets and priests. They are called watchmen and shepherds. The watchmen were to act like watchdogs.

When they saw something bad coming, they should have barked to warn the people - but they were blind - spiritually blind - they could not see. They lacked knowledge and they could not sound the warning that danger lay ahead. They lie around and dream and love to sleep.

Verse 10 – Israel’s watchmen are blind – they could not see – as watchdogs they were unable to bark – or they would bark at the wrong things.

Verse 11 - The priests were to be shepherds - but they lacked understanding. They did not care for the sheep. They did not understand what GOD was doing. They did not hear what GOD was saying. They turned to their own ways. They were out for what they could get for themselves.

Verse 12 – They wanted wine - and their fill of beer! And when they got their wine and their beer they would say - "To-morrow will be like today - or even far better."

There was no indication that the leaders were binding themselves to the Lord - or loving His Name - or worshipping Him - or keeping or respecting His Day - or obeying His Word. They had no heart for GOD and no heart for the people.

What a solemn warning - to all who are in positions of Leadership within the Church of Jesus Christ.

“Heavenly Father – our gracious and loving God – these are significant, important and basic words - come - listen - seek - call - forsake wicked ways - maintain justice - do what is right - put your hand in His - let His righteousness be revealed to protect you – and strengthen you and guide you. Thank You for these words Isaiah – help us to put them into practice in our own lives – through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

Longing For God