ISAIAH LESSON 65


     We will begin this lesson in Isaiah 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 lesson begins by reminding the house of Israel to keep God's
law. This is speaking of the near future when Jesus Christ {their
Messiah} will come to the earth as Saviour. He is everyone's
salvation.  This is calling them to righteousness. They will soon be
delivered from Babylon, and then a very short time later, the true
Deliverer comes. He is the One who will deliver all mankind from sin
and death.

     Isaiah 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."

     In captivity, it is difficult to keep all of the sacrifices and
ordinances. In fact, it would be impossible. They could , however,
remember the Sabbath. They might be forced to work on that day while
they were in captivity, but they could keep it uppermost in their
minds and hearts. Since they are in captivity, they must set the best
example of how God's people conduct themselves. They must not give up
their morals, even under these difficult circumstances.

     Isaiah 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."

     This is just explaining to them, they must not complain about
their condition. God had told them early on that this was caused by
Him to get them to repent. They are captives, they are {some of them}
eunuchs, but they must realize it was because they had disobeyed God.
Whatever hardships came on them, they were of their own making. The
eunuchs and the foreigners, who had accepted Judaism, thought they
would be cast off, when Israel went back to the homeland. They thought
of themselves as useless to God.

     Isaiah 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;"

     Even though they had served in the palace during their captivity,
they would be acceptable to God, if they had kept the Sabbath in their
hearts. They are like everyone else. They will be saved, because they
have had faith and accepted the covenant of God.

     Isaiah 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."

     We see in this that the house is speaking of the church. The
walls have to do with the holy city {New Jerusalem}. They will have a
special place of remembrance.

     Isaiah 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;"

     The strangers, mentioned in verse 6 above, are speaking of all
the nations who were not physical Israel. We studied earlier how there
were more of them who accepted Jesus as their Saviour, than there was
of the natural Jew. The secret is, they accept Jesus as their Saviour
and Lord. The covenant, spoken of here, is the new covenant of grace.

     Isaiah 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."

     The covenant of the law had been just for the Hebrews. The
covenant of grace unto salvation is for all people of the world. The
temple was dedicated by Solomon, when he knealt before the altar, with
both hands raised to God, palms upward. We know that the temple in
Jerusalem, like the tabernacle in the wilderness, was a place for the
people to sacrifice to their God. When Jesus fulfilled all the law
with the sacrifice of His body on the cross, there was no need to
sacrifice again. Now, the sacrifice of the believer is praise. Now,
the house of God would be a house of prayer and praise, instead of
sacrifice.

     Isaiah 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 God, in the verse above, is Adonai Jehovah. This is just
saying that God will not only bring the physical house of Israel out
of captivity to Him, but will, also, call the heathen to Him.

     Isaiah 56:9  "All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, [yea],
all ye beasts in the forest."

     This is speaking of all of those who are opposed to God and His
people. They would like to destroy God's people.

     Isaiah 56:10 "His watchmen [are] blind: they are all ignorant,
they [are] all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down,
loving to slumber."

     God's watchmen are the leaders of the temple, the teachers, even
the prophets. Isaiah says here, they are overcome with spiritual
blindness. Jesus said they had eyes to see, and could not see. Their
ignorance has to do with not understanding the Scriptures. They should
know {above everyone else} the Scriptures. They are not aware that it
is time to warn the people. The Bible said, if the blind lead the
blind, they will both fall in the ditch. It is such a shame that the
learned scholars of the Bible did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
They were so self-satisfied that they were as if they were sleeping.

     Isaiah 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."

     One of the problems with the priest and high priest {at the time
of Jesus} was the fact this sacred position had deteriorated to where
they were buying the priesthood. Jesus spoke harshly of them, and
rightly so.  When he ran the money changers out of the temple, it was
because the priesthood had gotten greedy and started selling
sacrificial animals that were damaged. I personally believe that some
of them actually knew Jesus was the Messiah, but they were afraid of
losing their control over the people. They had changed the law of God
so, that Jesus called it their law. They were not there to help
others, but for self-gain. They were actually angry when Jesus healed
the sick. They felt it made them look bad.

     Isaiah 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.

     It appears that many of the people who were supposed to be the
leaders were actually heavy drinkers. What a terrible state for the
leaders to be in. Leaders, then or now, must set a high standard for
God's people to follow.

























                          Isaiah 65 Questions


1.  Why, in verse 1, are they told to keep His judgement and justice?
2.  What is this saying to the house of Israel?
3.  In captivity, it is difficult to keep all the ____________ and
    ___________.
4.  How could they keep them?
5.  What must they not give up, even though they are in captivity?
6.  What must the children of Israel be careful not to do?
7.  Why had God allowed them to go into captivity?
8.  What did the eunuchs and the foreigners have in common?
9.  How can the eunuchs be saved?
10. The house, in verse 5, is speaking of what?
11. What is the holy city in verse 5?
12. Who are the strangers in verse 6?
13. What is the covenant mentioned in verse 6?
14. The covenant of the law is just for whom?
15. Describe how Solomon prayed in the temple?
16. Why is there no need to sacrifice any more?
17. What is the sacrifice of the believer?
18. What is the Lord God, in verse 8, taken from?
19. Who are the beasts in verse 9?
20. Who are God's watchmen?
21. What does Isaiah think is wrong with them?
22. What does their ignorance have to do with?
23. What happens, if the blind lead the blind?
24. The learned scholars were so self-satisfied, it was as if they
    were _____________.
25. What are the leaders called in verse 11?
26. What does the author personally believe about the leaders in the
    temple?
27. Why were they angry when Jesus healed the sick?
28. Leaders, then or now, must set a _________ _________ for God's
    people to follow.