1 Thus says the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed.
We must judge right from wrong and live a righteous life. God requires this of us.
No, we don’t have to be righteous to get saved. That would be like trying to clean a fish before you catch it. And we can’t be righteous on our own. It takes Jesus’ help.
But we ARE required to live righteously once we do accept Jesus into our hearts. He won’t reside in a place where willful sin lives.
2 Blessed is the man that does this, and the son of man that lays hold on it; that keeps the sabbath from polluting it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
God blesses when we do choose to strive for righteousness. When we make the first move to try to live that way, He makes up the difference for us.
3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that has joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, “The Lord has utterly separated me from His people:” neither let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
A eunuch is a castrated human male. Even a eunuch can be fruitful for God.
The most famous eunuch in the Bible: the right-hand servant to queen Candace of Ethiopia was driving home from the Passover feast in Jerusalem (evidently being a proselyte [gentile convert] Jew). While driving along he is reading Isaiah 53:7 (“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth.”) A man (Phillip by name) standing by the road calls out to him “Do you understand that verse?”
The Eunuch answers “No.” so Phillip climbs up in the chariot and explains that it is talking about Jesus. The eunuch accepts Christ as his savior, is baptized, and goes on home.
History then tells us that this eunuch preached to the entire court in Ethiopia about Jesus and this started a revival that led thousands to the Lord. In fact, Ethiopia is still known as a Christian nation today because of this man’s preaching.
So, far from being a “dry tree,” one of the most fruitful preachers in history was a eunuch.
4 For thus says the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep My sabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and take hold of My covenant;
5 Even unto them will I give in Mine house and within My walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Eunuchs were not even allowed to come into the Temple at Jerusalem, but God doesn’t care. He will make everyone who is a willing servant fruitful.
6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and takes hold of My covenant;
God is not a respecter of persons and does not limit salvation to only one bloodline. In fact, Acts 17:26 says “And (He) has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”
There is no difference in God's eyes between different nationalities. Only between those who choose to serve Him and those who don’t.
7 Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24
At Calvary God changed the order of things and instead of worship being centered in the Temple at Jerusalem (which was destroyed in AD70 anyway, never to be rebuilt), worship became centered in the heart of all believers from all nationalities, all languages, all bloodlines.
8 The Lord God, which gathers the outcasts of Israel says, Yet will I gather others to Him, beside those that are gathered unto Him.
God opened the doors to gather all people to Him.
9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
The leaders are being irresponsible and God is fixing to send punishment.
11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
The leaders are selfish, not really caring for the people God put in their charge.
12 “Come ye,” say they, “I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.”
They were making plans to party instead of minister.