Salvation for All Who Follow God
Study note
God declares that his salvation is coming soon and calls on people to do what is just and right. A special blessing is promised to anyone who keeps the Sabbath and does no evil. Then God addresses two groups who might feel excluded: foreigners and eunuchs. In the ancient world, foreigners were not born into the covenant community, and eunuchs (men who had been physically altered, often as servants to foreign kings) were forbidden from the temple assembly under the old law. But God now promises that any eunuch who keeps his Sabbaths and holds to his covenant will receive something better than children: an everlasting name in his house. Foreigners who love the Lord and serve him will also be welcomed. God's house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples. God, who gathers the scattered people of Israel, says he will gather still others.
1 The Lord says this: "Do what is fair and do what is right. My rescue is almost here, and my goodness is about to be shown." Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the person who does this and holds to it. They honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. They keep their hands from any evil. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
3 The foreigner who has committed himself to the Lord should never say, "The Lord is going to shut me out from his people for sure." And the person who cannot have children should never say, "I am nothing but a dried-up, useless tree." Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4 For here is what the Lord says to those who cannot have children but who honor my Sabbaths. This is for those who choose what makes me happy and who hold tightly to my covenant: For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
5 "I will give them a place of honor inside my temple and within my walls — something even better than having sons and daughters. I will give them a name that lasts forever and will never be forgotten." Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6 "And to the outsiders who have joined the Lord -- they serve him. They love his name. They worship him. They honor the Sabbath. They hold firmly to my covenant --" Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
7 "I will bring them to my holy mountain and fill them with joy in my house of prayer. Their offerings and sacrifices will be welcomed on my altar. My house will be known as a house of prayer for every nation." Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
8 The Lord God brings scattered Israel home. He says, "I will gather even more people. They will join those I have already brought back." The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
Israel's Blind and Greedy Leaders
Study note
The tone shifts sharply as God turns to criticize Israel's own religious and political leaders. He compares them to blind watchmen who cannot see approaching danger, and to mute dogs that cannot bark to warn the flock. These leaders are lazy, sleeping and lying around. They are also greedy, like dogs that can never get enough to eat. They are shepherds who only care about themselves, each looking for their own profit. They invite each other to get drunk and assume tomorrow will be just as good, or even better. This failure of leadership made Israel vulnerable to both spiritual and military disaster.
9 Come, all you wild animals! Come and eat your fill, all you beasts of the forest! All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
10 Israel's lookouts are blind to everything. They are all clueless. They are like dogs that cannot bark — lying there dreaming, loving their naps. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
11 And they are greedy dogs that can never get enough. They are shepherds with zero understanding. Every one chases after their own interests, looking out only for their own gain. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
12 "Come on," they say, "let me grab some wine! Let us drink all the alcohol we want! Tomorrow will be even better than today — or at least just as good!" Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.