Study notes

Isaiah 56

Introducing IsaiahWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

54:1–66:24 Section

The last chapters in Isaiah described what would happen to people who did things God hated. God hated it when his people only acted as if they worshipped and obeyed him. But what they actually did was commit murder. They told lies and treated needy people badly. God hated it when people made evil plans and worshipped false gods. God longed for his people to stop sinning and to obey him. God described his longing like holding out his hands to welcome a stubborn nation.

God promised to bring judgement against his people for their sins. They would suffer and would be put to shame. He also invited them to change so that they could live. He described this like buying food and drink from him at a market. But God gave the food and drink for free. That showed how deeply God wanted them to turn back to him and be forgiven.

The last chapters in Isaiah also described what would happen to people who obeyed God. People who obeyed were humble, trusted God and wanted to be taught by him. They would be blessed and would be welcome in God’s house. That was another name for the temple. God promised to live with anyone who turns away from their sins. This promise applied to people from Jacob’s family line, to outsiders and to people from all nations. They would possess God’s holy mountain of Zion. This meant that they could live in the land where God ruled as King.

God described the light and brightness and new day of Jerusalem. He was talking about something more than the time when people returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. God described a completely new work that he would do. He would create new heavens and a new earth. In the new heavens and new earth, everyone would honour God. This was described as people from all over the world coming to Jerusalem. They would worship God there. This Jerusalem that God described would be full of joy. There would be no more crying. No one would cause harm or destroy anything or anyone. Everyone would do what was right and fair. God would do this new work when it was the right time.

Many years later Jesus said that God was starting that new work through him. Jesus used the words of Isaiah 61:1–2 to describe the work he was doing on earth (Luke 4:14–21). In Revelation, John also described the new heavens and new earth. The city where God ruled for ever as King was called the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1–5).

56:1

  • Maintain justice and do what is right: Isaiah 1–39 emphasize the importance of justice in relationships with others and God. True godliness comes from having a character shaped by God's character, achieved by understanding and consistently applying God's word.

  • My salvation is coming soon: This summarizes the message of Isaiah 40–55, where the Lord is creating a world of harmony, peace, restoration, vindication, and the removal of enemies (Isaiah 46:13).

56:1–8

This section summarizes chapters 1–55 with an invitation to the outcasts to participate in God’s redemption.

56:1

This last major division of the book of Isaiah brings together themes from chapters 1–39 (sin, justice, righteousness, responsibility, vengeance, and vindication) and chapters 40–55 (salvation and the age to come).

56:3

  • Foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord would become full members of his covenant community. In earlier times, their participation had strict limits (Deuteronomy 23:3, 7–8).

  • eunuch: In the past, a man who had been emasculated was not allowed to take part fully in the community (Deuteronomy 23:1). Both eunuchs and foreigners were seen as outside Israel’s holiness. They were considered on the edge of God’s people.

    But in the age to come, God would bring those on the margins to the center. Those who were once excluded would be welcomed and honored (Matthew 20:16).

56:3–7

The blessing (56:2) would extend to eunuchs and to the Gentiles.

56:4

The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant (Exodus 31:13–17). It shows the special relationship between the Lord and Israel.

56:5

  • in My house and within My walls: Those once excluded will have a place with God.

  • a memorial and a name: Everlasting existence in God’s presence is better than the blessing of physical descendants.

56:7

  • burnt offerings and sacrifices: In the past, God rejected Israel’s offerings when the people were living sinful lives (Isaiah 1:11–13). Their worship did not please him because their hearts were not right.

    But God would accept offerings from righteous gentiles, that is, people from other nations who truly follow him. Being part of a certain nation does not matter if a person does not truly honor God.

  • a house of prayer for all the nations: The Lord would open the temple to all nations (see Isaiah 2:2–4). Jesus criticized the people for disrespecting the temple and preventing it from being a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17).

56:9

Wild animals are here a metaphor for the hostile nations surrounding Judah.

56:9–57:13

This passage reflects on how common evil had become among God’s people. Many of them were greedy and wanted more and more for themselves (Isaiah 56:9–12). They treated righteous people with hatred and violence (Isaiah 57:1–2). They also worshiped idols instead of the true God (Isaiah 57:3–13).

56:10

  • The leaders of Israel failed to guide and protect God’s people from the sins that led to the exile in Babylon.

  • dreamers … loving to slumber: See Isaiah 29:10.

56:11

  • shepherds with no discernment: Israel's leaders did not know how to rule in a godly way (see also Ezekiel 34:1–6). In contrast, the Lord is the faithful shepherd of his people (Isaiah 40:11).

  • they all turn to their own way: They did not care about God or his standards for leadership (see also Isaiah 53:6).

  • his own gain: Compare Isaiah 33:15.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources