Come One Come All Series

Isaiah 56: 1 – 12

Come One Come All

1 Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD speak, saying, “The LORD has utterly separated me from His people”; Nor let the eunuch say, “Here I am, a dry tree.” 4 For thus says the LORD: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant, 5 Even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. 6 “Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants—Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant—7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” 8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him.” 9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, all you beasts in the forest. 10 His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs which never have enough. And they are shepherds who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory. 12 “Come,” one says, “I will bring wine, and we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant.”

When I was a little kid one event that has been imprinted greatly upon my brain was that time my parents took me to the circus. The sights and colors still shine as bright in my thoughts. The unique smells still are triggered today as I visit different locations. The sounds of certain vendors resonate in my mind. One such was the speech of a side show vendor who was nonstop selling his next performance. I still hear his voice, ‘Come one, come all, see the mysteries; experience the thrills; observe the death defying acts.’ Wow! For a kid this was something else.

Can you see also in these verses our Precious Holy Spirit’s similar call? We will see that He also announces, “Come one, come all”. See the Awesome Salvation that the Messiah has done for you. All can receive.’ Amazing!

This being said this section of Isaiah is built around the theme of faithfulness to the everlasting covenant mentioned in chapter 55 verse 3, and of response (or lack of response) to God’s saving purposes. One important aspect of this is with regard to the keeping of the Sabbath which comes with a threefold emphasis beginning in this chapter and in chapters 58 along with chapter 66, where the thought is of keeping one day set apart for the worship of our Great Adoni Yahweh. The Sabbath is a day for worship and for doing our Great God Yahweh’s pleasure. It is a day for submission to our Holy God. It is a day for delighting in His will.

Note how this ‘new’ approach to the Sabbath is in line with. It is not calling simply for a laborious observance of its requirement, but for a new positive attitude towards God. It is to be living and not dead. And most noteworthy it is open for all to enjoy and participate.

If you have a chance I would like you to take a look at the sermon ‘God’s 9 Commandments’ that I had the privilege of putting together. In this teaching I take a look at how we as Christians have been duped into thinking that we do not have to obey God’s Commandments. I get answers such as they were only for the Jews. My question to this position is ‘then it is okay for us to steal, commit adultery, and murder?’ The quick response is – ‘of course not’. Then how come we only have to obey 9 of God’s Commandments? Why is the Sabbath ignored especially as we see that He has put so much concern for it?