Isaiah 56

The LORD exhorteth every one to godliness, verse 1, etc. promising to the converted Gentiles that their worship etc. service should be also wel-pleasing etc. acceptable unto him. 5. The Lord calleth the tyrants to come and destroy the blind and hypocritical watchmen, whom he calleth dumb dogs, 9.

1. Thus saith the LORD, keep judgement and do justice: [Under the name of judgement and justice he comprehendeth all that we owe unto God and to our neighbour] for my salvation is at hand to come, [herewith doth agree the beginning of Christs and John the Baptists sermons, saying, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is hand. (my salvation) to wit, that salvation which Christ the Saviour of the world shall bring unto me. Or if these be the words of Christ, then this is the meaning, my salvation whereby I will preserve or save mine elect] and my righteousness to be revealed. [the righteousness of the LORD is revealed in the Gospel, Rom.1.17.]

2. Blessed is the man (that) doth this, [That keepeth judgement and righteousness, ver.1.] and the child of man (that) layeth hold on it: that keepeth the Sabbath, [under the Sabbath must be understood the whole worship of God, which ought to be especially practised on the Sabbath, a part being taken for the whole. See ver.7.] so that he doth not profane it; and he that keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

3. And let not the stranger [Heb. The son or child of the stranger; that is, the strangers, as verse 6. And below chap.60.10.] that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, the LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: [Christ hath abolished the difference and distinction between people and nations; before him there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, master and servant, Gal.3.28.] neither let the eunuch say, I am a dry tree. [that is, I am like a dry tree: for as that hath no fruit, so have I no children.]

4. For thus saith the LORD of [Or unto] the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and chose the thing that I delight in, and take hold of my covenant:

5. I will also give unto them [To wit, unto those strangers and eunuchs, of whom mention is made verse 3, and 4.] in mine house [that is, in the Christian church] and within my walls [to wit, within the spiritual City of Jerusalem; that is, in my Church] a place [or room. So also below chap.57.12. Heb. A hand] and a name better then of sons and daughters: [or which is better then etc. what kind of name is that? That they shall be called the children of God, Joh.1.12. and 1 Joh.3.1. which is a far more excellent name then the name of son or daughter, give everyone of them [Heb. Him] an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.

6. And the strangers [See above ver.3.] that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be servants unto him, all (or everyone) that keepeth the Sabbath, [See ver.2.] (so) that he profane it not, and they that take hold of my covenant.

7. Them will I also bring to mine holy mountain, [Heb. To the mountain of my holiness: that is, to my church, to the assembly of mine elect, as above chap.2.2.] and I will make them joyful in mine house of prayer; [Heb. In the house of my prayer; that is, in the temple, which is ordained and set apart for an house to worship me in, and consequently the Church of God in general] their burnt offerings and their slay-offerings [understand here principally according to the phrase of the old Testament) by burnt-offerings and slay-offerings, the thanksgivings, and the reasonable service and free resignation or giving up of our selves freely and willingly to obey and serve God. These are the spiritual sacrifices and offerings of believers in the new Testament, whereof prayer is the chiefest. Compare herewith Malach.1.11. Rom.12.1. Heb.13.15.] shall be accepted upon mine altar: [that is, because of the Mediator Jesus Christ, who was typified and represented by the altar. See Heb.13.10.] for mine house shall be called an house of Matth.21.11. Mark 11:17. Luke 19:46.] for all nations [not for the Jews onely, as in the old Testament, but even the believing Gentiles shall as well as the believing Jews, worship God in spirit and in truth in the Christian Church, which was typified and figured out by the Temple.]

8. The Lord LORD which gathereth the out-casts of Israel, [That is, of the people of Israel] speaketh, I will gather unto him, [to wit, unto Christ. Others, unto it, to wit, to the people of Israel, or to the house of prayer in my Church: and so in the end of this verse] more besides those [or unto those] that shall be gathered unto him.

9. All ye beasts of the field come to eat, (yea) all the beasts in the forest. [Here divers interpreters begin the fifty seventh chapter. By the beasts of the field and of the forest must here be understood all the cruel Tyrants and persecutors of the people of the Jews. These God calleth here together against them, that the wicked and the hypocrites might be cut off and destroyed by them.]

10. Their [Heb. His, to wit, the peoples] watchmen [to wit, the Priests, and also the rulers of the people. See Jerem.6.13. and 8.10. Ezek.3.17.] are all blind, [that is, ignorant, unexperienced in my laws] they know nothing, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark: [that is, they are like unto dumb dogs, they do not reprove the sins of the people, neither do they warn them of Gods wrath, fearing to incur their displeasure] they are sleepy, they ly down, they love slumbering.

11. And these dogs are strong in desire, [Heb. Strong in soul; that is, in desire, in lust, in appetite, or glutonous, or greedy and unsatiable, that cannot be satisfied with money and revenues. See Job 39. The Annotat. On ver.1. Others, strong in body] they cannot be satisfied, [or they know not to be full, or they know not how to be satisfied] yea they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all turn them to their (own) way, everyone to his gain, [or to his covetousness] (everyone) from his end. [that is, from one end to the other. Others, (everyone) in his quarter. Others, the chiefest of them. As if he had said not onely the meanest among the priests, but also the highest & chiefest of them. Others of his (to wit, the peoples) chiefest: then the meaning would be, not the poorer sort, but of the chiefest, and wealthiest persons, that were able to bring the greatest offerings and gifts, do they enquire and exact their filthy lucre. See the Annotat. Gen.19.on verse 4. And 47.on verse 2. Jud.18.on ver.2.]

12. Come hither (say they) I will fetch wine, and we will carouse strong drink: [Compare above chap.22.13. and 1 Cor.15.32.] and tomorrow shall be as this day, (yea) greater, much more excellent. [Heb. Great, exceeding, abundant. As if they had said, we will be merry and jovial tomorrow as we have been to day; yea we will be more merry and more jovial. These words may also be taken in this sense, as if they had said, though we drink till we be drunk and stark mad, yet no great punishment shall befall us, we shall fare no worse tomorrow then we have done to day; God doth not heed these things.]