Keep, Do, and Observe God's Grace

Introduction

There is something special about the trajectory of the book of Isaiah. Chapters 1 - 39 are pervasive with judgments upon Israel and Israel’s enemies. Chapters 40 - 55 show more of a salvific hope for Israel and their enemy nations; a way that is made for all followers of God to enjoy his reign. And chapters 56-66 are some of the most practical aspects of Isaiah’s writing. There’s an emphasis on the doing that takes place during the waiting for the Lord’s reign.

Today, I want us to walk through these first 8 verses in Isaiah 56. Then, we’re going to observe an instance in which Jesus quoted verse 7. I want us to notice how these two passages impact one another.

Why is it that Jesus quoted Isaiah 56:7 as He was turning tables in the temple?

First, Let’s make our way through Isaiah 56:1-8 and get a feel for the message he brought to Israel.

Remember these few things. We have skipped around a LOT in the book of Isaiah to make an effort at “Describing the Indescribable God”. The passages we have chosen typically pertain to a certain Majestic aspects of God’s character. His sovereignty, might, and justice. I want to argue today that, perhaps, this passage helps us see God’s righteous anger.

Before reading the passage - begin with this circumstance… SLIDE - BRIDGEPORT SPORTS

So, school has just begun! We are officially a full 2 weeks in!

Do you remember a time when you wanted to be a part of something? Something prestigious? Something bigger than you? To enjoy the association and benefits that come with being a part of a certain team, group, or business… (Comment some on the nature of being a part of these teams. Perhaps what it was to be a part of either basketball or show choir or student gov. …)

What we are about to read in Isaiah 56 has a sense of that “belonging” welling up in the text. I want us to first read all the way through it. Then, we’ll walk quickly back through it to note some of the distinctive points where this passage is not unlike the longing for association with a team or an organization.

Let’s read the passage together

Isaiah 56:1–8 (ESV)

1 Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.

2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

4 For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant,

5 I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.

6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—

7 these 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 peoples.”

8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.”

This passage is directed to the people of Israel. And remember, Israel is God’s chosen people. They were then… They still are today. But, one outstanding observation from this passage, is that God intentionally makes known the vastness and richness of His salvation! Israel knew they were God’s chosen people… but were they willing or happy about sharing in the benefits of the kingdom of God?

Verses 1-2 are where I draw the first two actions in the title of this message. What is it that the LORD commands of his chosen people, Israel? Verse 1 says...

First… that they KEEP JUSTICE.

Second… flowing from the first; DO RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Thirdly… even the reasoning is given! MY SALVATION WILL COME AND MY RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE REVEALED.

These commands are given to Israel. Israel was expected to be God’s light to the nations! His salvation would come and His people were to KEEP JUSTICE AND DO RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTIL THEN.

Now… NOTHING in all of Israel’s history and national personhood spoke more clearly of their “chosen status” and the way and place in which they would KEEP JUSTICE and DO RIGHTEOUSNESS than this ONE “THING” ...

Do you know what it was?

Verse 2 tells us… (reread it!)

THE SABBATH!

KEEP THE SABBATH… AND KEEP FROM DOING ANY EVIL!

The text doesn’t necessarily infer this point, however, it’s worth noting… it is difficult to have our hands into evil… IF WE ARE HOLDING FAST TO THE SABBATH.

Now, we are NOT a people who are bound to the OT Laws. However, there is no question that Jesus kept the Sabbath. And, if you look at the sermon on the mount, Jesus is obviously in favor of The Law! (Matthew 5:17-18 )

Matthew 5:17–18 ESV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

We live on the “other side of the cross” where Jesus has fulfilled the Law… and so we are not bound to it. Yet, our observations of the life of Jesus prove... Jesus Kept the Law… so... HE KEPT THE SABBATH! And KEEPING THE SABBATH can surely HELP US DO RIGHTEOUSNESS and KEEP FROM DOING EVIL!

AND the occasions where the scribes and Pharisees were trying to catch Jesus in a trap, saying that He was breaking the Sabbath, were complete fabrications! Either they were flat out lying, misrepresenting the Law OR they were “condemning” Him for breaking their laws! Not THE LAW! (Look at Matthew 22:19-26) for an example.

Move on… passages 3-6

Once Isaiah establishes these two commands - KEEP JUSTICE and DO RIGHTEOUSNESS… verses 3-6 give an example of those who were NOT - for one reason or another - able to have fellowship with the house of Israel. THIS IS A BIG DEAL!

Verse 3 refers to “the foreigner” and verses 4-6 spend more time on the eunuch.

Notice the encouragement given to the foreigner in verse 3. The foreigner should not say The Lord will surely separate me from his people… Why is that?! Because, when you look back in Deuteronomy 23, though the relationship of Israel to the Edomites and the Egyptians was FOREVER on the rocks… they were welcomed into fellowship with Israel IF they obeyed YAHWEH!

Look at the eunuch at the end of verse 3… why would the poor eunuch NOT get to have fellowship in the community of Israel?! Simply because they’re anatomy was damaged. Look at Deuteronomy 23:1. It seems terribly unfair… BUT… GOD IS GRACIOUS! Though there ability to procreate was stripped from them - whether voluntarily or involuntarily - their faithfulness to God; their devotion to Him was received with welcome! Israel was commanded to accept them into the fellowship and worship of the nation. The foreigner and the eunuchs faithfulness to honor YAHWEH’S sabbath was 100% acceptable to HIM! They were NOT TO BE DENIED because of nationality or physical infirmity, malady, or deformity. THEY WERE WELCOMED BY GOD!

The language then of verse 4 confirms God’s acceptance of the foreigner and eunuch… verses 5 and 6 use language that graphically envisions the eunuch receiving from God that which he could not of his own accord produce: a monument (such as what Absalom set up to give him a heritage when he had no son) and a name (such as what John writes about in his opening chapter (John 1:12 “12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” ). The last part of verse 5 is as graphic of a use of irony as it gets… the adult male bereft of his manhood with have a progeny that will NEVER BE CUT OFF!

THE LORD WOULD NOT STAND FOR EXCLUDING SOMEONE WHO WOULD KEEP HIS SABBATH AND WORSHIP HIM AS GOD!

Now, you are preparing to bring the message home. Jesus capitalized on this “universal welcome” to all who would call upon the LORD God when he turns the tables in the temple courts. HIS ANGER WAS JUSTIFIED AND DIRECTED TOWARD THOSE WHO WERE BEING CUT OFF FROM GIVING GOD THE WORSHIP HE WAS DUE!

Look then again as to how the LORD regards the foreigner… Isaiah 56:6-8

Isaiah 56:6–8 ESV

6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant— 7 these 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 peoples.” 8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.”

There is a place for worship FOR ALL who call upon the name of The Lord God!

So… why did Jesus quote this passage from Isaiah - “for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”???

Say, “Look with me at Matthew 21:12-13

Matthew 21:12–13 ESV

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Now, the Law as noted in Leviticus, required sacrifices of the animals that were being sold. HOWEVER… it was not in favor of EXTORTION! Guess what that EXTORTION WAS DOING?!

Why was Jesus so mad?! THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO OBSERVE…

JESUS WAS ANGRY BECAUSE FOLLOWERS WERE PREVENTED FROM WORSHIP! Pigeon sellers PREVENTED THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN GOD FROM WORSHIPING HIM by charging more than what was needed. The offering was PRECISELY MEANT TO BRING THE WORSHIPER INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD! It was an official observance of God’s Law TO BRING GOD WORSHIP! AND THE CROOKED MONEY CHANGERS AND PHARISEES ALLOWED IT!

Quickly look at Is. 56:9-10

Isaiah 56:9–10 ESV

9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour— all you beasts in the forest. 10 His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.

The leaders of Israel were warped, lazy, and failing to lead the people into worship of God. They FAILED TO KEEP JUSTICE and TO DO RIGHTEOUSNESS!

BUT OBSERVE OUR JESUS!!

Matthew 21:14–17 ESV

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” 17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

JESUS DREW THE MOST UNWORTHY TOWARD HIMSELF! He didn’t PREVENT THEIR WORSHIP! HE MADE A WAY FOR IT! HE INVITED IT! REGARDLESS OF THEIR CONDITION. THEY CAME TO HONOR GOD’S SABBATH… AND THEIR HOMAGE WAS WELCOMED BY GOD IN THE FLESH!

The only folks who were disappointed in that… the crooked, scheming, priests and scribes who’s authority and power were dwindling.

Jesus ends by sharing Scripture that reinforces the sweetest worship that God can receive! It will come from the mouths of infants and nursing babies… those who have no say about what family line they’re born into or what their status in life will be!

JESUS MADE A WAY FOR PRAISE! HE KEPT JUSTICE. HE DID RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE LEFT THE EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US TO FOLLOW!

It was ALWAYS part of God’s plan to make salvation available to the WORLD!

Isaiah 49:6 “6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.””

God ALWAYS intended that Israel be a light for the nations!

Jesus CONTINUED THAT CALLING... Though Israel never fulfilled it... JESUS DID!

IS THERE ANYONE WE WOULD PREVENT FROM WORSHIP JESUS? Are we ANGRY WHEN WE SEE THAT HAPPEN? From bringing God the worship He is due?! Is there a prejudice, or a willful denial that somewhere in our personal struggle over conceitedness or privilege where we’d overlook another person’s DESERVING TO HEAR THE GOSPEL THAT SAVED US?

May we be a people who share the story of JESUS MIGHTY WORK OF SALVATION TO BRING US A BLESSED ASSURANCE! Salvation from hell and fellowship eternal with HIM!

Let’s sing… Blessed Assurance.