What is the meaning of Isaiah 56:4? For this is what the LORD says: • The verse opens with God’s own declaration, assuring us that what follows carries His full authority (Isaiah 1:2; Jeremiah 1:9). • Scripture repeatedly uses this formula to highlight divine reliability—what He speaks is certain and unchanging (Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 40:8). To the eunuchs • Under the Mosaic Law, eunuchs were barred from temple participation (Deuteronomy 23:1), a vivid reminder of human limitation. • Here, God addresses them directly, showing that physical circumstance does not prevent anyone from entering His favor when they trust and obey Him (Acts 8:34-39; Galatians 3:28). • This prophetic word foreshadows Christ’s inclusive work, welcoming those once on the margins. who keep My Sabbaths, • Sabbath-keeping was a covenant sign between God and His people (Exodus 31:12-17). • By highlighting it, the verse stresses devoted worship and rest that honors the Creator (Genesis 2:3; Isaiah 58:13-14). • True Sabbath observance flows from love for God, not mere ritual (Matthew 12:8). who choose what pleases Me • Choice reveals the heart. These eunuchs actively prefer God’s will over personal desire (Joshua 24:15; Psalm 40:8). • Pleasing God is linked with walking in faith (Hebrews 11:6) and bearing fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:10). • The verse underscores personal responsibility: obedience is never accidental. and hold fast to My covenant— • “Hold fast” pictures a firm grip on God’s promises and commands (Deuteronomy 10:20; John 15:7). • Covenant loyalty, not lineage or bodily status, defines membership in God’s family (Isaiah 56:6; Romans 2:28-29). • By clinging to the covenant, the eunuchs receive the same blessings promised to Israel, anticipating the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ (Ephesians 2:13-19). summary Isaiah 56:4 shows God personally addressing eunuchs—people once excluded—promising honor to those who revere His Sabbath, choose what delights Him, and cling to His covenant. The verse declares that faithful obedience, not physical condition, opens the way to God’s house. In doing so, it foreshadows the gospel’s reach: everyone who trusts the Lord and walks in His ways is welcomed and granted an enduring place in His family. |
    |