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Friday 18 May 2012

Isaiah 56:6-8 - Worldwide

All who love the Lord are called into the kingdom. As we have seen Isaiah is full of prophecies about the good news going way beyond the borders of Israel. Notice the active part of those who are called. They love and serve the Lord, there is nothing passive about salvation.
The Lord draws them to His holy mountain, ie they are drawn into the presence of God, into the heart of His kingdom. And He will make us joyful in His presence. David declares that there is fullness of joy in God's presence (Psalm 16:11).
The language of the Old Testament sacrifices is still used here. The emphasis is on the acceptance of the people from all nations, made again in the end of verse 7 when God declares that His house will be a house of prayer for all peoples. Remember that when Jesus cleared the temple He quoted from this verse.
"I will gather yet others". Jesus said that He had sheep from another fold (John 10:16). It was this world wide reach of the kingdom which was the reason why Paul was so adamant in resisting the Judaisers in the New Testament times, for he knew that God's plan was now being unfurled.

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