Servants Who Love the Name of the Lord

Isaiah  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Holiness is presented in Isaiah 56 as a proper response to the coming salvation of the Lord. Reassurance is given to those who are outsiders - foreigners, eunuchs, outcasts - that they have a heritage with the Lord, that they will not be cast out. The watchmen of Israel are rebuked and judgment predicted on them for their laziness and presumption. All in all, the measure of God's servants is seen as a heart of love for God and His ways, not in mere outward conformity or national heritage.

Notes
Transcript
Isaiah 56 begins the last literary unit of the book of Isaiah. In this final section, the focus in Isaiah’s prophecy now looks beyond the time of Exile for God’s people. He is prophesying now to those who have come out of Exile, they have experienced the physical salvation of the Lord to a degree, and now the hope promised is a hope for the end, an eternal hope. Some have called this section, “the book of the conqueror.” and have compared it to our experience now in the New Testament where we have experienced the salvation of the Lord, we have seen the work of the Redeemer, and while we know He is the King forever, His Kingdom is “incognito” or invisible at this time. So we are in a period of waiting for the Conqueror to return, to fulfill and bring the fulness of the Kingdom in the New Heaven and New Earth, to defeat evil fully and finally, and to Reign visibly and gloriously.
Much like how the New Testament teaches Christians how they ought to conduct their lives in light of the coming of the Lord, This last section of Isaiah shows God’s people, who are waiting for that consummate kingdom, how they can rightly respond to the salvation promised to them. That is exactly what Chapter 56 intends to do. I Think Peter uses a very similar train of reason in his second epistle.
2 Peter 3:11–14 ESV
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
Isaiah 56, and really the rest of the book, finds itself in that “what sort of people should we be?” category of thinking.
Chapter 56, as it stands, starts this section by answering a pleading question for those who have been offered salvation, but were previously considered “outsiders.” Specifically mentioned as outsiders in this passage are three types of people: 1, foreigners - those who were not ethnically Jewish. 2, Eunuchs, the impotent - who were typically excluded from congregation in the Old Covenant as “unholy” - and 3, the outcasts - a broad category of those who had previously found themselves rejected from Israel’s covenant community.
The implied question of these people that is answered in this passage is this - “Can we be sure we will not be rejected again?” They had lived lives of rejection for one reason or another. They had lived previously outside of the Lord’s Covenant, outside of His blessing. They did not want to return to that condition, but that exclusion seemed imminent in their minds - they couldn’t shake that fear.
By the statements they made, they saw themselves as second-rate citizens of the kingdom, and somehow lesser or unfit to belong to God’s family. But the answer comes to them, that they have indeed a glorious future as part of God’s believing community. They have an everlasting seal, a new name, that will not be cut off.
We find that a marked characteristic of these people seeking assurance is this - they have willingly joined themselves to the Lord because they love him, and they desire to serve Him. They Hold tightly to God’s promises - their worst fear would be to lose this blessed position, and God assures them that they will not.
There is one other category in this passage, and that is the wicked watchmen of Israel. These are those people, who are in the Community of God’s people by birth, in a natural sense, but they ignore God’s work and God’s ways. They presume upon their good fortune and salvation, and live in such a way as to be unthankful. God’s pronouncement to them is much the opposite of the outsiders who love him. And in this we see a great contrast.

The measure of God’s servants is not fleshly pride, but a heart of love for God and His ways.

1. Those Waiting on Salvation - 1-8

Those waiting on salvation are called to live holy lives; and they will not be cut off as they fear, but will be brought near.

A. Called to life holy lives - 1-2

What we see here is a call to live in holiness in light of the coming salvation of God. If we were not careful in reading the text, we could quickly take a legalistic interpretation of God’s words for his soon-to-be delivered ones.
Notice carefully, the call is to “keep justice, and do righteousness” - If that statement were all alone, or were followed by “in order that you will be saved” then we could take the stance of the legalist and say, “see, God’s salvation of His people depends on their righteousness.” But to the contrary, the call is “keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness will be revealed.”
God’s deliverance is nigh, and he says that should cause the kind of behavior that is in keeping with His ways. His people are looking for his salvation, they are looking for Him, their mind is fixed on Him, so they desire His ways as well. remember, this last part of Isaiah is “the book of the conqueror.” In this full and final salvation, God is going to vindicate his people, destroy unrighteousness, and set up his Kingdom of justice - and the citizens of that Kingdom should want to reflect the King.
And we must be careful to define our justice and righteousness by God’s terms. The reason for doing this, after all, is that his righteousness is coming. This is not a call to preserve the world by our standard of righteousness, this is a call to live every day before the face of God. The foundations around us may crumble, but we live as if standing before an audience of one.
The one who “holds it fast” is blessed. Hold’s what fast? Well, the language is actually a little ambiguous. Holding on to God’s salvation? Onto God’s righteousness? Holding on to God Himself perhaps? I think the answer is yes. The one who is holding fast to God is holding fast to his righteousness and salvation, and if you are holding on to any one of those things you are holding them all. The key is, he is “holding it fast” Not letting go. Like clutching tightly the pearl of great price, once you know God, and His salvation you hold to Him dearly!
Further, there is a promise of blessing tied to this obedience, and specifically to the keeping of the Sabbath. Sabbath, of course, was the commanded time of rest and worship in the Jewish economy. In the law it was prescribed to “remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” Sabbath-keeping is synonymous with worship, with rest from labor, with trust in God’s ways. It was a reflection on God’s rest on the seventh day of creation. It was an inward testimony to God of trusting Him, and an outward testimony that one belonged to God’s covenant people. Sabbath-breaking, then, was considered just the opposite. It was an expression of not trusting the Lord. It was an expression of needing to get in as much human effort as possible. It was an expression of a desire for gain and pleasure more than holiness. Interestingly, we read in 2 Chronicles 36 that Sabbath breaking was one of the main reasons for the Exile.
Now, to bring this to our day, Hebrews 4 teaches that those who have believed in Christ perfect rest in Him, in that we rest from our labor in sin, or in trying to gain righteousness, and we rest in what Christ has bought for us. Now we celebrate that rest, and worship the one who bought it for us. Furthermore, while Christians do not observe the Jewish Sabbath on Saturday, there is a day set apart beginning in the New Testament and continuing now for nearly 2000 years in which we come aside to celebrate the risen Christ. Sunday is not a Sabbath in the sense of Law, but there is a way in which it does signify rest and worship - rest from deeds of the law, rest from the work of seeking righteousness, and rest in the risen Savior.
Hebrews 10:25 ESV
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Now this verse is not only speaking of Sunday worship, but it certainly isn’t speaking of less than Sunday worship. We, too, set aside times of worship and fellowship, just as God commanded these people, because we know His day of salvation, the Day of the Lord, is drawing near.

B. Will not be Cut Off - 3-5

Here is where the fear of the outsider comes in. Look at the objections - the foreigner says, “The LORD will surely separate me from his people.” The eunuch says, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
These are two objections fueled by an overly-fleshly view of God’s people. These outsiders view God’s people and think, “the blessing comes because of their physical lineage, and I am an outsider.” Or in the case of the Eunuch, the man unable to marry and provide children, “The blessing comes from a fruitful heritage, and I am unable to gain that.”
You may ask, “Why does God address Eunuchs here?” Eunuchs for service, to protect the royal family. There were strict ceremonial laws against those who mutilated themselves so that they couldn’t produce children. The laws restricted these people from “standing in the assembly of the righteous.” So these truly believed that there was a reason to fear their exclusion. They say, “we have joined ourselves to God’s people now, but there is no way He will allow us to remain this way.”
But here, as one commenter I read put it, “Prophecy breaks through the limits of the law.” There may have been temporary, ceremonial laws that prevented these people in a historic sense, But in the final analysis God’s Grace and Providence far exceeds the temporary nature of the ceremonial law.
God says to these fearful ones, “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.”
The curse of the outsider was that he was simply not an Israelite - he wasn’t one of God’s people according to the flesh. He looked to his fleshly heritage and said, “surely I will be rejected.” The curse of the Eunuch was that he was unable to obey the Lord in being fruitful, in bringing forth children. He was unable to experience the incredible blessing, especially in those days, of having children. He looked, again, to his fleshly heritage and said “surely, I will be cut off.”
But God says, in essence, your heritage - your spiritual blessing, your place in my house and the name that I have prepared for you far exceeds the blessing of any earthy children. Your family relationships are earthly and temporary, but your inheritance in the kingdom will never be cut off.
Romans 10:11–12 ESV
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
There is a pastoral note here, and it is this. Some, either by nature or by choice, are living a life in which they cannot have children. Some, by choice or otherwise, live in such a way that they are unmarried and don’t have the option of bearing children. To that person, know this. In Christ, the blessings of a spiritual heritage far exceed that of human family. In this sense truly, weeping endures for a night, but joy dawns with the morning. And also, as an admonition to all of us, know this. God may see it fit in your lifetime to deny you certain earthly blessings. Seeking the earthly blessings that we have been denied for one reason or another in God’s providence while losing sight of the eternal heritage we have shows us that we need a better perspective. It is like asking, “can I have a penny, Lord?” When he has given us an inheritance of gold.

C. Will be brought near - 6-8

The message to the foreigners is very similar. They were fearful because of their lack of fleshly ties to Israel, but God’s word to them is assurance and hope. And here also, we see the real litmus test of God’s people - God’s servants. Look at how they are described
Joined themselves to the Lord
To minister to him
To love the name of the Lord
To be his servants
These are words of willingness, of genuine devotion, of a heart of love for God and His ways. These are not words of mere duty, of slavery, of “have to or else” service to God. These foreigners, much like the Eunuchs who desired God and his ways, show a genuine heart of love for God. There is an inner reality of the work of Righteousness which far exceeds the mere fleshly ties that being born an Israelite could give.
And what is the promise to these?
They will be brought near. They will be brought to where God is, on his holy mountain. They will be brought to joy in prayer with God. They will participate in the ordinances that signify atonement. Their worship will be accepted.
In other words, God is saying, there will be no difference! There will be no distinction! Now, the immediate fulfillment of this would be when the people would return from Babylonian captivity to rebuild Jerusalem. But there is a further sense in which this prophecy reaches in to the new heaven and the new earth, and the New Jerusalem, where the citizens will not be just those who are fleshly Israel, but they will be the redeemed from every kindred, tribe, tongue, and nation.
The end of verse 7 shows something wonderful, too. God does this, not as a concession. Not as a “fine, if I have to” action. He does this as part of His plan. As fulfillment of his promise. These foreigners and Eunuchs, those previously excluded, could now pray David’s prayer of Psalm 23:6
Psalm 23:6 ESV
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Verse 8 God says, in essence, “If I can gather the outcasts of Israel, I can gather anyone that I please.” God’s gathering-work goes on even now. And these words are really a foundation for the words of Jesus in John 10:16.
John 10:16 ESV
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
One illustration of that is in Acts 8, Philip the evangelist was miraculously transported to the place where a man, an Ethiopian Eunuch, was reading the Isaiah scroll. He was reading chapter 53, and when Philip asked him if he needed an explanation, the Eunuch asked, “Is this speaking of the prophet or another one?” Of course, we know that Philip started right there and told the Eunuch in the whole scripture about Christ. We know the Eunuch believed, and he was baptized. But My curious mind wonders if Philip showed Him Isaiah 56. I wonder if Philip said to the man, “see, you are both a foreigner and a eunuch. You are an outsider in every way - but God has promised to people just like you in the past a place of inheritance, and righteousness.
But now the passage turns. From lauding those on the outside who genuinely desire to come in, to speaking to those one the “inside” who have no such heart of love for the Lord.

2. Those Presuming on Salvation

Now really, it seems that verse 9 starts an entirely new prophecy that stretches into chapter 57. Matt will be preaching Isaiah 57 next week, and I’m sure he will make the appropriate connections to these verses. So I will not stay here long, only to notice the contrast between these groups of people.
Those presuming on salvation will be startled with judgment, because they are ignorant of the Lord’s work though they think they have His favor.

A. Will be startled - 9

There is a call for the beasts of the field to come and devour. If we look back to Isaiah 18, and also to Ezekiel 34, this reference to Beasts of the field seem to be hostile foreign nations. The beasts of the field were the ones to execute God’s judgment in the exile, and Now the call is for them to do the same to these unfaithful ones.
As we will see, the ones referred to in these verses were resting in their comfort. They were having their fill of blessing. They would be startled to find that they were actually in the anger of God.

B. Are ignorant of the Lord’s work - 10-11

The watchmen are the prophets, the leaders. They are called shepherds. They were supposed to be leading and guiding the people, but they are blind and without knowledge.
Most pointedly, they are called dogs. Now much to my dismay as a dog lover, dogs in the old testament really are never seen in a positive light. They weren’t, apparently, kept as pets by Jewish people in this day. The only positive thing about a dog is that it might bark to alert of an intruder. But here, these dogs do not even have their one positive trait. They can’t even bark. Rather, they sleep, dream. They are lazy.
The ones who were to be warning Israel of Sin, the ones who should have been encouraging Israel to have the attitude of these foreigners and Eunuchs who loved the Lord and wanted to serve Him, they were slumbering and sleeping. And when they were awake, they were interested only in feeding their own appetites.
They are shepherds, it says, who have turned to their own way. Interestingly, that is what Isaiah 53 says of the sheep. Sheep scatter and wander when not led by a shepherd. Here, those who should have been shepherds scatter and wander themselves.

C. Think they have the Lord’s Favor - 12

They are presuming that tomorrow will find God’s favor just like today. They are presuming that tomorrow will be another happy, joyful day. Their only aim is to fill themselves, to make merry, but they are not concerned with God and His ways.
And here is the contrast - those who should have loved God and his ways only love themselves and their own pleasure. They are just the opposite of the foreigners, the outcasts, and the eunuchs which they probably despised. They were ignorant of God’s saving work, while these who were on the outside were rejoicing in it.
Earlier Matt read a parable in Luke 12 about the rich fool. That parable is a parable of presumption. A parable in which the man had everything he needed except righteousness. He had every earthly good, and treasures stored up on earth for many years - but he had no treasure in heaven.
So, these watchmen of Israel, had earthly pleasure galore, but they ignored the call of God to come to Him. They ignored the salvation of God that was promised for those who would turn from sin and come to His provision.
Application
Know this, there is no advantage when it comes to salvation in having Christian family. Physical family relationships do not gain you entrance into the family of God. Now certainly, if you grow up in a believing home you hear the word, you are brought to church, you see the people of God. But There is no way in simply being near God’s people that you gain salvation by inheritance. I will go a step further to say this. There is no spiritual benefit in living in America. America does not hold some special place of blessing in God’s heart, and the rise and fall of america is not the rise or fall of biblical Christianity. There may have been a day where America largely stood for Truth. That’s simply not the case now, and has not been for some time. I want to say this as lovingly as I can. Our identity can not be in nationalism. God’s intention and interest is not grounded in your family or your nation, it is grounded in the Gospel transformation that happens in the lives of individuals. God’s measure of his servants is a heart of love and devotion to Him. You can grow up with Christian parents, going to church every time the doors are opened, learning to pray and even read the scripture, but still have a heart of stone. You can grow up in a conservative upbringing, opposing radical political ideas, being a patriot of all patriots, yet still find your soul in danger of eternal condemnation. If you find yourself resting on your Christian heritage, your family heritage, your national heritage, rather than resting in the work of Christ, then I beg you to call out to Him. In trusting those things over Christ, you are in danger of idolatry - turn from your sin and trust in Christ today. He alone will remove your heart of stone, a heart of presumption, and place instead a heart of flesh - a heart of love for Him and His ways.
There is no background of sin and unrighteousness that the Lord cannot forgive. There is no shame and guilt too deep that God cannot overcome. If you think in your heart today, “I am too far gone. There is no way that God would accept me. There is no way that he will allow me in His presence.” And you would be right, except the salvation of the Lord has come through Christ. He has taken our sin and shame upon Himself. He has born our unrighteousness and made the way for forgiveness. Just like the foreigner and the eunuch, who had no fleshly hope, yet they were accepted in the mercy of God - so you, who have no hope in your own strength, can run to God’s mercy.
Finally, to those of us who know and love the Lord and long for his coming, there is a call to holiness. There is a call to love what God loves and hate what he hates. There is a call to look for his coming, and live our lives in a way that reflects his work. This is not a call of legalism, “do this so God will have favor on you.” “Do this so you will prosper.” “Do this so God will bless your country.” This is a call of wonderful opportunity. “God has had favor on you, and he allows you to live in such a way that reflects him. Christ is coming again, serve Him with joy while you are waiting.” The foreigner and the eunuch were characterized, again, not by the fleshly hope, but by their love for God and a heart that desired to serve Him and hold fast to Him.

The measure of God’s servants is not fleshly pride, but a heart of love for God and His ways.

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