Today’s study is titled An appeal to keep God’s judgments. Something many of us need to keep close to heart. Isaiah 56 and verse 1 reads.
Isa.56:1] Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
This is speaking of course of Jesus Christ, Savior and our Redeemer that came lowly riding on a colt of an ass. Keep you my commandments, and DO his Word. Let’s go to Matthew 3 and verse 1 reads.
Mat.3:1] In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
[2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
[3] For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
And we drop down to Mat.4 and verse 17 reads.
Mat.4:17] From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Now, let’s go to Romans 13 and verse 11 reads.
Rom.13:11] And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
[12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
[13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
[14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
We find here in Romans the true Armor of God, that gospel armor is Jesus Christ, the Word of God. As we will see when we continue in Isaiah 56 and verse 2 reads.
Isa.56:2] 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.
Sabbath is rest, Jesus became our Rest. This is why we study his word every day, for every day in his Word is a good day of rest. Let’s go to 1Cor.5 and verse 7 reads.
1Cor.5:7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
[8] Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Also, a great study on this is in Hebrews 4, back to Isa.56 and verse 3 reads.
Isa.56:3] 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.
If they do this, let them know they’re wrong. Let’s go to Ephesians 2 and verse 10 reads.
Eph.2:10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
[11] Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
[12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
[13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
We also studied not long ago about Philip being sent by God to an eunuch in Acts 8 and verse 26 reads.
Acts 8:26] And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
[27] And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
[28] Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
[29] Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
[30] And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
[31] And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
[32] The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
[33] In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
[34] And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
[35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
This is why I’m pointing this out, Jesus is written in the Old Testament, right here in Isaiah. God’s plan from the beginning was Salvation. Back to Isaiah 56 and verse 4 reads.
Isa.56:4] 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;
To those who love me and keep my Word, take rest in me and rest in my new covenant, which is Christ Jesus.
Isa.56:5] 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.
This name is Christian, Christ men. Jesus came into the world for ALL, both Israel and the Gentiles. Let’s go to John 1 and verse 11 reads.
John 1:11] He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
[12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
[13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
[14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Now, let’s go to Acts 11 and verse 26 reads.
Acts 11:26] And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
And here in Isaiah 62 verse 2 reads.
Isa.62:2] And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
Not only was Salvation promised to us here in the Old Testament, but so was our new name, Christians. Back to Isa.56 and verse 6 reads.
Isa.56:6] 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;
His New Covenant, Jesus Christ, this is the Sabbath being spoken of here. But, let’s go to my favorite verse in the bible, the one I have posted on my door, Josh.24 and verse 15 reads.
Joshua 24:15] And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Back to Isa.56 and verse 7 reads.
Isa.56:7] 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.
This verse is very special here in Isaiah, we have it repeated by Jesus himself in Mat.21:13, Mark 11:17 and Luke 19:46. Let’s go to Mat.21 and verse 13 reads.
Mat.21:13] And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
History will repeat itself, look around at the churches today. But, let’s not lose focus on what was said, “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain”. Let’s go to Rev.21 and verse 24 reads.
Rev.21:24] And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
I brought you here to teach a very important lesson. Let’s look at this word Nations, it is G1484 Ethnos and are all non-Israelites, Gentiles. Paul would use this term to mean Christian Gentiles. Even them will the LORD bring into his house, Salvation is for ALL his children. Back to Isa.56 and verse 8 reads.
Isa.56:8] The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
The LORD has other sheep, let’s go to Psa.147 and verse 2 reads.
Psa.147:2] The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
And now John 10 and verse 14 reads.
John 10:14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
[15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
[16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
[17] Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
This is what the LORD has done for us, he came as written in John 1:14 and died for our sins. Not his sins but ours, so that on repentance we should have salvation. For ALL his children. Back to Isa.56 and verse 9 reads.
Isa.56:9] All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
[10] His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
All false prophets and pastors who say they teach God’s word, but do lie and teach from their own heart’s false doctrine. Beware, it is written against you. Let’s go to Jeremiah 12 and verse 9 reads.
Jer.12:9] Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.
[10] Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
[11] They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
And in Jer.14 verse 13 reads.
Jer.14:13] Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.
[14] Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
[15] Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
And in Mat.15 Jesus teaches us in verse 14.
Mat.15:14] Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
And in Philippians 3 and verse 2 reads.
Phil.3:2] Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
[3] For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
So we see what the LORD thinks of those who teach false doctrine. Back to Isa.56 and verse 11 reads.
Isa.56:11] 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.
This is called filthy lucre. They do it for money, maybe a pension. They do not know the truth, just what some quarterly tells them to preach. They never searched the Word of God.
Isa.56:12] 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.
In the Hebrew it says they lead you on a two-day drunk. In other words, they lead you away from God, his Word, the Truth. Let’s go to Psalms 10 and verse 4 reads.
Psa.10:4] The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
[5] His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
[6] He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
[7] His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
We know in these end times there will be a famine for hearing the word of the LORD. Amos 8:11. But, we learn here as well in other places that the LORD will give liberally to all that seek his word. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible