Isaiah Chapter 56 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Isaiah 56:1–2
Here is what ADONAI says: "Observe justice, do what is right, for my salvation is close to coming, my righteousness to being revealed." Happy is the person who does this, anyone who grasps it firmly, who keeps Shabbat and does not profane it, and keeps himself from doing any evil.
Here, we see God's call for us to follow his commands and we see that it is because the kingdom is close and, in that kingdom, that is what will be done by all. We see that blessing flows to those that keep his commands and we are given the example of Shabbat and the fact that observing Shabbat has a sanctifying effect on our lives which leads to us avoiding evil.
Isaiah 56:3–5
A foreigner joining ADONAI should not say, "ADONAI will separate me from his people"; likewise the eunuch should not say, "I am only a dried-up tree." For here is what ADONAI says: "As for the eunuchs who keep my Shabbats, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant: in my house, within my walls, I will give them power and a name greater than sons and daughters; I will give him an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
This passage shows us that the emphasis of this chapter is on the Gentile people that have chosen to serve the Lord. A eunuch was someone that made a decision to disobey God by making it impossible for them to have children but God says that even they have a place in the kingdom and they are going to be given a new reputation that is better than that of sons and daughters.
Isaiah 56:6–7
"And the foreigners who join themselves to ADONAI to serve him, to love the name of ADONAI, and to be his workers, all who keep Shabbat and do not profane it, and hold fast to my covenant, I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples."
In the same manner, Gentiles that choose to obey and serve the Lord have a place in the kingdom and this is speaking of the Millennial Kingdom. We see that, in this kingdom, the foreigner will be allowed access to the temple and their prayers and sacrifices will be accepted just as those of the Jews will be.
Isaiah 56:8–9
Adonai ELOHIM says, he who gathers Isra'el's exiles: "There are yet others I will gather, besides those gathered already." All you wild animals, come and devour, yes, all you animals in the forest!
In this passage, we see that, in the last days, God is gathering the exiles of Israel but he is also gathering some from the nations as well.
Isaiah 56:10–12
[Isra'el's] watchmen are, all of them, blind; they don't know anything. They are all dumb dogs, unable to bark, lying there dreaming, loving to sleep. Greedy dogs, never satisfied - such are the shepherds, unable to understand; they all turn to their own way, each one intent on his own gain: "Come, I'll get some wine, we'll fill up on good, strong liquor! Tomorrow will be like today; in fact, it will be even better!"
Watchmen were people that devoted a part of the night where everyone else was sleeping to prayer and seeking revelation from God. Here, we see that the watchmen have turned from listening to God and are not true watchmen. This speaks of what we see today as many describe themselves as prophets or watchmen but they are not hearing from God but seeking their own worldly desires and fame. We see that the shepherds or leaders of Israel are unable to understand the things of God because they are all concerned with seeking earthly gain. These leaders rebel in drunkenness which keeps them from hearing from God and allows them to be influenced by evil. We see that they have no desire to change as they expect things to continue as they are and even getting further and further away from the things of God.