Thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. Happy is the mortal who does this, the one who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and refrains from doing any evil. Do not let the foreigner joined to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely separate me from his people”; and do not let the eunuch say, “I am just a dry tree.” For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, 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. And the foreigners who join 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, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant- these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56: 1-8, NRSV.
Holy Father, in that name which is above every name, the name of Jesus; we come to You. We want to sit at Your feet, and learn of You. May Your Holy Spirit direct our study this day. This is our prayer, in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen.
Our Scripture for today is rather lengthy. I believe that the message would not be considered complete, if I did not include the entire pericope. For the past five days, we have looked at the location of the temple, and some of the possible symbols to be found in this location. We have also looked at the people, who were being welcomed into the fellowship, who, formerly, were not even allowed to enter the temple. Today, we will look at the sign, that is distinctive of the covenant, that God established with His people.
Three times in the eight verses, the Sabbath is mentioned. It is noteworthy that the first time it is mentioned, it is in reference to all human beings, not a group of people, of any particular nationality: “Happy is the mortal who does this, the one who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and refrains from doing any evil.” “Mortal” includes all of us, for we have all sinned, and therefore, we are all subject to death. So this mark, of the covenant, is all inclusive. When Jesus instituted the Sabbath, by resting, after six days of creation, there were no Jews in existence at the time. There was only Adam and Eve, the first two creatures, “made in the image of God.” So even before the Jewish nation existed, there was the Sabbath. Now God is reemphasizing that His Sabbath was for all mortals.
Scripture speaks of another sign of a covenant between God and Abraham and Abraham’s descendants, a sign “in the flesh,” circumcision. Speaking to Abraham, God said: “This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you” (Genesis 17: 10, 11). This sign was not all inclusive. Only the men of Israel, participated in this sign. But in Christ, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3: 28,29). Therefore, circumcision was not a suitable sign for this “open-door covenant.”
The Sabbath sign was not in the flesh, but would be written upon the heart (Hebrews 8: 10). It is through love for God, that we keep His Sabbath (John 14: 15). Therefore, it is not imposed, but accepted, by all who keep it. But in order for us to truly keep the Sabbath, we are called by God to “Maintain justice, and do what is right.” The two go hand in hand!
Have a Happy Sabbath! We will continue tomorrow.