Isaiah 56 (HCSB)
A House of Prayer for All
1 This is what the Lord says:
Preserve justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed.
2 Happy is the man who does this, anyone who maintains this, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
3 No foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord should say, “The Lord will exclude me from His people”; and the eunuch should not say, “Look, I am a dried-up tree.”
4 For the Lord says this:
“For the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold firmly to My covenant,
5 I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give each of them an everlasting name that will never be cut off.
6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord minister to Him, love the name of Yahweh and become His servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold firmly to My covenant—
7 I will bring them to My holy mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
8 This is the declaration of the Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
“I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”
Unrighteous Leaders Condemned
9 All you animals of the field and forest, come and eat!
10 Israel’s watchmen are blind, all of them, they know nothing; all of them are mute dogs, they cannot bark; they dream, lie down, and love to sleep.
11 These dogs have fierce appetites; they never have enough. And they are shepherds who have no discernment; all of them turn to their own way, every last one for his own gain.
12 “Come, let me get some wine, let’s guzzle some beer; and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”
PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN (verses 1-2): I gave into my sexual frustration this week, Father, by masturbating. Please forgive me for giving in to the frustration and allowing the evil to persuade me instead of going to You and Your strength to appease. Help me to remember to go to You if I begin to falter in this way again, Father, so that I do not fail again.
PROMISE (verses 3-7): Father, the promise You give in these verses is amazing. Many believed that only the chosen few would be saved by You, however here You promise us that ALL who love You and come to You will be saved. Thank You, Father, for promising to open up Your kingdom to ALL of us who believe in and accept You as our Lord and Savior.
ATTITUDE (verses 1-2): Help me to always have an attitude of joy and happiness in doing what is right in Your eyes, Father. Far too often I struggle with this and complain my way through things or expect something in return. Remind me always that You are enough and that Your way is always the best way. Help me to feel and embrace Your happiness and joy in these acts so that I do not complain or get frustrated even when I get no return.
COMMAND (verses 1, 7): You give several commands in this Scripture, Father. The two that stood out the most to me are that we are to “preserve justice and do what is right” as well as ensure that Your house is a “house of prayer for all nations.” Help me to keep these commands close to my heart, Father. Help me to be a preserver of Your justice and to always do what is right in Your eyes. Help me to remember that Your house is for everyone, so that I never turn anyone away or make anyone feel unwelcome.
EXAMPLE (verses 1-8): So many examples for us to live by in this Scripture, Father, but they can easily be summarized for a simple mind like my own. You essentially give us a powerful example of how we should be accepting of everyone into Your house. We should never breed an environment that shuns people away, but rather one that is just, fair, and speaks Your truths out of love. Help me to embrace and follow this example in ALL that I do, Father.
*DAILY NOTE: I struggle so much with sexual frustrations for some reason, Father. I know based on the “love languages” I’m a very physically driven person, but why does that physicality have to almost entirely revolve around sexual pleasures, lustful thoughts, and sinful desires? Help me to overcome this addiction, Father, so that I may be appeased by all that You have to offer me and not what the world and my sinful flesh wants to distract me with.
*GENERAL NOTE: I always "sandwich" my quiet time with God in prayer and do it in a location that I will not have any distractions so that I can be focused on my quiet time with God. Do not worry about how short or long your journal entries are for that day's quiet time. Just focus on the actual quiet time and relational conversation with God through the Holy Spirit and His Word. The journaling is an enhancement to your quiet time conversation with God, but also to allow you to reflect on things later as you can look back on your journal entries later when you do the chapters again in the future to see how you have grown. See the FAQ for more detail on how I do my quiet time.
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