A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS

Isaiah 56:1-8 / Keywords 56:7

these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy 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 nations.”

 

Salvation for Others

56:1 This is what the Lord says:

“Maintain justice

    and do what is right,

for my salvation is close at hand

    and my righteousness will soon be revealed.

2 Blessed is the one who does this—

    the person who holds it fast,

who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,

    and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”

3 Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say,

    “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”

And let no eunuch complain,

    “I am only a dry tree.”

4 For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,

    who choose what pleases me

    and hold fast to my covenant—

5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls

    a memorial and a name

    better than sons and daughters;

I will give them an everlasting name

    that will endure forever.

6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord

    to minister to him,

to love the name of the Lord,

    and to be his servants,

all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it

    and who hold fast to my covenant—

7 these I will bring to my holy mountain

    and give them joy 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 nations.”

8 The Sovereign Lord declares—

    he who gathers the exiles of Israel:

“I will gather still others to them

    besides those already gathered.”

1. The LORD tells his covenant people waiting for salvation: maintain justice and do what is right! For his righteousness will soon be revealed through the coming Messiah. Doing right and keeping from evil is also closely related to keeping the Sabbath holy. When we keep the Sabbath, it is a mark of loyalty to God’s covenant and a sign of our love to God. When we worship God on the Sabbath and live a God-centered life, we find true rest in him.

 

2. God’s salvation is not limited to the Jews but open to anyone who grasps it by faith. Eunuchs are like dry trees with no hope of leaving a legacy, but God gives them an everlasting name if they choose to please God and hold fast to his covenant. If Gentiles commit themselves to loving God and obeying and worshiping him, they will find great joy in the LORD and will be welcomed at the altar of God. Anyone who repents and turns to the LORD is promised a place in God’s house. God wants his house to be a house of prayer for all nations. He wants to seek the lost and bring them back to him. Jesus revealed God’s heart when he said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also” (Jn 10:16).

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your salvation in Jesus available to anyone who comes to you by faith. Help me to welcome anyone and bring them to you.

One Word A house of prayer for all people