Isaiah 56:1-12: a reflection

1The LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is near and my righteousness will soon be revealed. 2Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast; who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD speak, saying, “The LORD will surely separate me from his people.” Do not let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” 4For the LORD says, “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, choose the things that please me, and hold fast to my covenant, 5I will give them in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. 6Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to serve him, and to love the LORD’s name, to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and holds fast my covenant, 7I will bring these 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 will be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” 8The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “I will yet gather others to him, in addition to his own who are gathered.” 9All you animals of the field, come to devour, all you animals in the forest. 10His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark— dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. 11Yes, the dogs are greedy. They can never have enough. They are shepherds who can’t understand. They have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter. 12“Come,” they say, “I will get wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be as today, great beyond measure.”

God speaks a word of welcome to those who might have thought themselves shut out from his people. To the foreigner who feared, The LORD will surely separate me from his people, and to the eunuch who said, I am a dry tree, God gives reassurance: those who join themselves to him and keep his covenant will not be excluded. To the eunuch he promises a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters, an everlasting name; and of the foreigners he says, I will bring these to my holy mountain, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Those who feared themselves disqualified are given a place and a name with God.

Notice whom God reassures: those who feared themselves excluded or disqualified. The foreigner feared he would be separated; the eunuch felt himself a dry tree, cut off from the future others had in their children. These were people who might well have thought themselves shut out, disqualified from a full place among God's people. But God reassures them: those who join themselves to him and hold fast his covenant are welcomed, given a place in his house and a name that will not be cut off. God does not exclude those who feared themselves disqualified; he gives them a place and a name with him, a house of prayer open to all peoples.

That welcome is worth taking to heart, for God welcomes those who fear themselves excluded or disqualified, giving them a place and a name with him. We can feel disqualified from a full place with God, by our history, our circumstances, something about us that seems to shut us out, as the foreigner and eunuch felt; but God reassures those who join themselves to him that they are welcomed, given a place and a name. Do not think yourself disqualified from a place with God because of what seems to shut you out; he welcomes those who join themselves to him, giving them a place and a name, as he reassured the foreigner and the eunuch. If you feel excluded or disqualified, take heart that God welcomes those who join themselves to him and hold fast his covenant, giving them a place in his house and a name that will not be cut off, as he reassured the foreigner and the eunuch; for God's house is a house of prayer for all peoples, and he does not exclude those who fear themselves disqualified but come to him.

Lord, you speak a word of welcome to those who might have thought themselves shut out from your people. To the foreigner who feared, the LORD will surely separate me from his people, and to the eunuch who said, I am a dry tree, you give reassurance: those who join themselves to you and keep your covenant will not be excluded. To the eunuch you promise a name better than sons and daughters, an everlasting name; and of the foreigners you say, I will bring these to my holy mountain, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Show me whom you reassure: those who feared themselves excluded or disqualified. The foreigner feared he would be separated; the eunuch felt himself a dry tree, cut off from the future others had in their children. These were people who might well have thought themselves shut out. But you reassure them: those who join themselves to you and hold fast your covenant are welcomed, given a place in your house and a name that will not be cut off. You do not exclude those who feared themselves disqualified. Take that welcome to my heart, for you welcome those who fear themselves excluded or disqualified, giving them a place and a name with you. I can feel disqualified from a full place with you, by my history, my circumstances, something about me that seems to shut me out, as the foreigner and eunuch felt; but you reassure those who join themselves to you that they are welcomed. Keep me from thinking myself disqualified from a place with you because of what seems to shut me out; you welcome those who join themselves to you, Lord, giving them a place and a name. If I feel excluded or disqualified, help me take heart that you welcome those who come to you and hold fast your covenant.