Isaiah 56:8, commentary and pictures

The Lord God who gathers the outcasts of Israel will gather others to Him besides those already gathered to Him. Those others are the foreigners, the sons of the stranger, eunuchs, Gentiles and heathen from every nation, even those who are not Abraham's physical descendants. They join themselves to the Lord to serve Him and love His name, to keep justice and judgment, to keep the Sabbath from polluting it and the hand from doing evil, to choose what pleases Him and take hold of His covenant. He gives them in His house a place and an everlasting name better than sons and daughters that shall not be cut off, brings them to His holy mountain, makes them joyful in His house of prayer, and accepts their offerings, for His house shall be called a house of prayer for all people. This foreshadows the gathering of the Gentiles through the gospel in the Christian age, and its promise to Sabbath-keeping worshipers shows the fourth commandment remains binding while the good news is preached to all nations. It therefore calls for the truth and glad tidings of salvation to be proclaimed broadly to every nation, city, and neglected field that has not yet heard, as the last warning to save a perishing world.

Those Whom God Gathers

The Lord God who gathers the outcasts of Israel promises to gather others to him besides those already gathered to him. The others are in addition to Israel's outcasts, people from beyond Israel brought into his people alongside them. The promise belongs to the time when salvation is near and righteousness is revealed, a precious assurance of a God who never fails, giving light in the Lord to those in darkness. It stands where two parties are brought to view, and those who study the Scriptures carefully and stand to glorify God are in the party assured by the testimony of God's Word that the love of God shall be upon them.

The others gathered are foreigners, sons of the stranger, eunuchs, Gentiles and heathen, including those who are not Abraham's physical descendants. The gathering extends to people of every nation and people group. The promise also applied to the witness of the exiles among the nations, by which many from the heathen would come to know God and seek to join Israel.

They are those who join themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love his name. They keep justice and judgment, keep the Sabbath from polluting it, keep the hand from doing evil, choose the things that please him, and take hold of his covenant. Taking hold of his covenant means the obedience pledged at Mount Sinai to do all the Lord said and be obedient, a covenant still in force. By that obedience heaven's richest blessings are received, as obedient Israel received guidance, protection, and prosperity above all nations, with bread and water blessed and sickness taken away during the forty years of wilderness wandering.

God gives them in his house a place and a name better than sons and daughters, an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. He brings them to his holy mountain and makes them joyful in his house of prayer. He accepts their burnt offerings and sacrifices on his altar, for his house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.

Gospel Gathering Foretold

The verse looks beyond the regathering of Israel's scattered outcasts to a further gathering of Gentiles through the gospel in the Christian age. The others to be gathered are people from other nations who join themselves to the Lord and keep the Sabbath, and their inclusion shows the blessing on Sabbath keepers belongs to that later age. It is not Israel alone but Gentiles with them who are brought in and blessed as the good news is preached to all nations.

That placing of Sabbath-keeping worshipers in the Christian age shows the fourth commandment remains binding. The obligation to honor the Sabbath continues beyond Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension, through the whole time when the gospel goes to all nations. The continuing call to honor the Sabbath stands as part of that worldwide preaching.

The verse extends the covenant blessings promised to Abraham to the heathen, giving hope to those seeking spiritual blessings. Foreigners who turn to Him, even those who are not Abraham's physical descendants, are welcomed among spiritual Israel, His church on earth. There they serve and love the Lord, keep the Sabbath holy, and take hold of His covenant, and God accepts their worship and makes them joyful in His house of prayer.

This gathering comes in the time when salvation is near and righteousness is revealed. It is a precious promise and assurance of a God who never fails. In that nearness it gives light in the Lord to those in darkness.

Call to Gather Others

The promise that the Lord who gathers Israel's outcasts will gather others besides those already gathered means the truth is to be proclaimed broadly to people of every nation and people group. The glad tidings of salvation are to be carried to those who have not yet heard them, including people beyond Israel who are gathered to the Lord. That widening work of gathering calls for sharing the gospel with people in the cities and in neglected fields. It is among the passages that foretell the work of presenting the warning message to the world. Standing with Isaiah 55 and Isaiah 58, it is a present burden for God's people to arouse themselves and give the last note of warning to save a perishing world.

This gathering is the grand and noble work of faithful shepherds and guardians of the flock. A minister and his wife may qualify themselves to do it. Its promise is reflected in the call to reach people outside the church and bring them within hearing of the truth. For them there is an open door to seek God earnestly and find Him, humbling the heart and standing in right relation to God.

The same gathering belongs to the great work to be done by institutions established by God's direction, calling His people to cooperate with Him. That cooperation requires rejecting human principles, self, and pride of opinion that dishonor Him and give the enemy room to hinder the work. Not one worker is to be spared, but those who have placed themselves in danger of sowing strange seed are to be recovered. They are to walk humbly, work in harmony with their brethren, and draw in even cords, with God's converting power and grace upon all who see and accept His salvation. The gathering embraces strangers and eunuchs who join themselves to the Lord to serve Him and love His name, who keep justice and judgment, keep the Sabbath from polluting it, keep the hand from doing evil, choose what pleases God and take hold of His covenant, to whom God gives in His house a place and an everlasting name, brings to His holy mountain, makes joyful in His house of prayer, and accepts their offerings because His house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.

Isaiah 50-58 is given for study to leaders in the cause and those connected with institutions. Within that charge the promise carries the Lord's reproof to His people for disregarding reproof and accepting only chosen parts of the word without thorough consecration to God. It warns those in high positions carrying great responsibilities who have had great light. It holds them accountable for neglected duty to warn the people what is truth.

The promise also applies to God's loyal people who are cast from their homes and made to suffer for keeping the truth, including the Sabbath. It shows that God gathers the outcasts of Israel and also gathers others to join them. They are not to be left without help.