“Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
‘The Lord will surely separate me from his people’;
and let not the eunuch say,
‘Behold, I am a dry tree.’
For thus says the Lord:
‘To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose the things that please me
and hold fast my covenant,
I will give in my house and within my walls
a monument and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that shall not be cut off.
“’And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,
and holds fast my covenant—
these I will bring 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 shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.’
The Lord God,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,
‘I will gather yet others to him
besides those already gathered.’”
“He who takes refuge in me shall possess the land
and shall inherit my holy mountain.
“It shall be said,
‘Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people’s way.’
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
‘I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.'” Isaiah 56:3-8; 57:13b-15
Isaiah propounds a high view of God in every vignette depicted. He also brings to light the folly and distance of man apart from Him. Repeatedly he draws the two together with messages of the Sovereign’s love and mercy extending invitation to all who would hear, and come. His is a house with wide walls that gathers outcasts and welcomes spiritual foreigners to become His children. Far or near, high or low, every contrite worshiper can take refuge there.
In provincial living within my small space surrounded by my people motivated by my passions tending to my responsibilities, it’s natural not to entertain thought of a broader world. We move about in measured margin, and often miss the majesty of God’s true family. Limited thinking and experience limits understanding of the scope of His heavenly abode.
The infinite Lord’s expansive love and far-reaching highways don’t figure in a narrow focus and nationalistic mindset. He is Lord of the world, with ways beyond our comprehension. His plans for the salvation of His people everywhere are spacious, and cannot be thwarted. (Job 42:2; Psalm 36:5-6; Isaiah 55:8-9)
How grateful are we to be counted among the contrite and lowly God revives with grace? Will we pray to hone His divine, eternal perspective on the world? What part do we play in bringing all people to the Lord’s house? Whom are we regularly inviting, gathering together, telling of His wonders and ways? (Deuteronomy 31:12-13; 32:2-3)
Lord, give me eyes to see and delight in Your wide world, and a heart to welcome many to Your large love and mercy.
As the rain and snow 