Isaiah 56 (v6-8)

Psalm 15 begins with and answers the question, “Who may abide in Your tabernacle?  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?”  This is an important question in Judaism because the Law of Moses did exclude certain ones from entrance to the temple (Deut. 23:1-8).  There were exclusions that applied to, among others, foreigners and “he who is emasculated by crushing or mutilation” (Dt. 23:1).  

In the New Testament not only were people excluded from the temple; there was a maze of statutes that kept the Jews from any unnecessary contact with “undesirables” (esp. Gentiles/foreigners; Acts 10:28).  It is quite likely that what was going on in Jesus’ day was happening in the days of Isaiah.

In the previous chapter God called everyone to come to Him, to seek Him, and to turn from their sin.  Now the prophet speaks to some who considered themselves to be outcasts (v2).  They too were welcome to God’s righteousness and salvation (v1).  As in Psalm 15, the faith of those who would come to the temple would be evident in the lives they lived (v2,6).  Thus, “the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, ‘Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him’” (v8).  Solomon had anticipated the nations in worship at the temple (1 Ki. 8:41-43).  So did Jesus when He said, “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).

You may remember that Jesus quoted Isa. 56:7: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Luke 19:45).  He said this when He cleansed the temple upon arrival at Jerusalem for the final time before His death.  What Jesus did and said on that occasion helps us understand the beginning (v1-8) and end (v9-12) of Isa. 56.  Some people think there is a sudden change in topics that defies reason.  In fact the sections fit together of necessity.  

The “shepherds of Israel” were charged with defining and applying the Law for the Nation (Matt. 23:1-3).  They enforced the rules of the temple, excluding anyone they saw as unfit. There came a time when they excluded any who followed Christ (John 9:22).  Yet they permitted onto the temple mount itself the crooks and swindlers that were part of the Passover business, making great amounts of money off people’s worship.  Thus Jesus’ use of Isa. 56:7 also invoked the condemnation of 56:9-12.  Those unworthy shepherds were blind watchmen, lazy and greedy drunks.

Let us not forget.  Heaven itself has a magnificent wall that is exclusionary (Rev. 22:14-15; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Matt. 7:21-23).  But the invitation to that city is open to all.  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).  “I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).  “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters” (Isa. 55:1).