PROPHET DATE JONAH 825 785 BC JOEL 800

PROPHET - DATE JONAH (825 -785 BC)? JOEL (800 BC)? HOSEA (785 -725 BC)? MICAH (785 -710 BC)? AMOS (784 BC)? ISAIAH (701 -681 BC)? NAHUM (700 BC)? ZEPHANIAH (630 BC)? JEREMIAH (629 -588 BC)? DANIEL (606 -534 BC)? HABAKKUK (598 BC)? EZEKIEL (597 -573 BC)? OBADIAH (588 -562 BC)? EZRA (536 -456 BC)? HAGGAI (532 -512 BC)? ZECHARIAH (520 -475 BC)? ESTHER (485 -465 BC)? NEHEMIAH (465 -424 BC)? MALACHI (420 -397 BC)? KING / EVENT - DATE TIGLATH-PILESER HEZEKIAH (JUDAH) SHALMANESER ISRAEL TAKEN CAPTIVE SENNACHERIB (745 -727 BC)? (726 -698 BC)? (727 -722 BC)? (705 -681 BC)? NEBUCHADNEZZAR ZEDEKIAH (JUDAH) JUDAH TAKEN CAPTIVE BELSHAZZAR CYRUS BABYLON DESTROYED DARIUS (605 -562 BC)? (597 -586 BC)? (541 -523 BC)? (559 -529 BC)? (536 BC)? (511 -475 BC)?

OUTLINE ISAIAH CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES V. 1 -8 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS V. 9 -12

READ: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 1 Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil. "

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 1 Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil. “ WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHO WILL THE LORD BLESS? WHY?

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 1 Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? WHAT DID DAVID SAY ABOUT THE LORD? READ: PSALMS 11: 7 7 The LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. READ: PSALMS 85: 9 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID THE LORD WANT ISRAEL TO DO? READ: ISAIAH 1: 17 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. READ: ISAIAH 26: 9 9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID THE LORD WANT ISRAEL TO DO? READ: ISAIAH 46: 12 -13 12 "Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who are far from righteousness: 13 I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID THE LORD WANT ISRAEL TO DO? READ: JEREMIAH 22: 3 3 Thus says the LORD: "Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID JEREMIAH PROPHECY? READ: JEREMIAH 23: 5 -6 5 "Behold, the days are coming, " says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID DANIEL PROPHECY? READ: DANIEL 9: 24 24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID JOHN PREACH? READ: MATTHEW 3: 1 -3 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!“ 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight. '" NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID JOHN PREACH? READ: LUKE 3: 3 -6 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. '" NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID JESUS PREACH? READ: MATTHEW 4: 12; 17 12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. " NKJV (Mark 1: 14, 15; Luke 4: 14, 15)

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO IS THE LORD TALKING TO? WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID JESUS PREACH? READ: LUKE 21: 29 -31 29 Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID PAUL PREACH? READ: ROMANS 3: 23 -26 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of 23 God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHAT DID PAUL PREACH? READ: ROMANS 13: 11 -14 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID PAUL PREACH? READ: HEBREWS 10: 24 -25 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT THEM TO DO? WHY? Keep justice, and do righteousness For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed WHAT DID PAUL PREACH? READ: HEBREWS 10: 36 -39 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. " 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO WAS COMMANDED TO KEEP THE SABBATH? READ: EZEKIEL 20: 19 -21 19 I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; 20 hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God. ' 21 "Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, 'which, if a man does, he shall live by them'; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO WILL THE LORD BLESS? Blessed is the man who does this Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil. “ READ: PSALMS 1: 1 -2 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO WILL THE LORD BLESS? Blessed is the man who does this Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil. “ READ: PSALMS 119: 1 -2 1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD! 2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO WILL THE LORD BLESS? Blessed is the man who does this Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil. “ WHO WAS COMMANDED TO KEEP THE SABBATH? READ: EXODUS 20: 8 -10 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO WILL THE LORD BLESS? Blessed is the man who does this Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil. “ WHO WAS COMMANDED TO KEEP THE SABBATH? READ: EXODUS 31: 13 -14 13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 Blessed is the man who does this Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil. “ WHO WAS COMMANDED TO KEEP THE SABBATH? READ: JEREMIAH 17: 21 -27 21 Thus says the LORD: "Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22 nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO WILL THE LORD BLESS? Blessed is the man who does this Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil. “ WHO WAS COMMANDED TO KEEP THE SABBATH? READ: JEREMIAH 17: 21 -27 24 "And it shall be, if you heed Me carefully, " says the LORD, "to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it, 25 then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, accompanied by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO WILL THE LORD BLESS? Blessed is the man who does this Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil. “ WHO WAS COMMANDED TO KEEP THE SABBATH? READ: JEREMIAH 17: 21 -27 26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the lowland, from the mountains and from the South, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, bringing sacrifices of praise to the house of the LORD. 27 "But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. "'" NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 1 -2 WHO WAS COMMANDED TO KEEP THE SABBATH? READ: EZEKIEL 20: 11 -14 11 And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, 'which, if a man does, he shall live by them. ‘ 12 Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. 13 Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, 'which, if a man does, he shall live by them'; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14 But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. NKJV

READ: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ 4 For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, 5 Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ 4 For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, 5 Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off. WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? EUNUCH? WHAT IS HE COMMANDED NOT TO SAY? WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO THE EUNUCHS?

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? AMMONITE? MOABITE? HOW WERE THEY EXCLUDED? WHY? READ: DEUTERONOMY 23: 3 -8 3 "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the LORD forever, 4 because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? AMMONITE? MOABITE? HOW WERE THEY EXCLUDED? WHY? READ: DEUTERONOMY 23: 3 -8 5 Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you. 6 You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? EDOMITE? EGYPTIAN? WHY WERE THEY NOT EXCLUDED? READ: DEUTERONOMY 23: 3 -8 7 "You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land. 8 The children of the third generation born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO MOSES & AARON? WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? HOW WERE THEY EXCLUDED? WHY? READ: EXODUS 12: 43 -46 43 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. 44 But every man's servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. 45 A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. (GENESIS 17: 9 -14 EXODUS 12: 1 -13)

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO AARON? WHO WAS EXCLUDED? WHY? READ: LEVITICUS 21: 17 -21 17 "Speak to Aaron, saying: 'No man of your descendants in succeeding generations, who has any defect, may approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 For any man who has a defect shall not approach: a man blind or lame, who has a marred face or any limb too long, 19 a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, 20 or is a hunchback or a dwarf, or a man who has a defect in his eye, or eczema or scab, or is a eunuch. 21 No man of the descendants of Aaron the priest, who has a defect, shall come near to offer the offerings made by fire to the LORD. He has a defect; he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO AARON? WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? OUTSIDER? READ: NUMBERS 18: 4 & 7 4 They shall be joined with you and attend to the needs of the tabernacle of meeting, for all the work of the tabernacle; but an outsider shall not come near you. 7 Therefore you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything at the altar and behind the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood to you as a gift for service, but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death. " NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 WHAT DID SOLOMON SAY ABOUT THE FOREIGNER? READ: 1 KINGS 8: 41 -43 41 "Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name's sake 42 for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? EUNUCH? WHAT IS A EUNUCH? READ: DEUTERONOMY 23: 1 -2 1 "He who is emasculated by crushing or mutilation shall not enter the assembly of the LORD. 2 "One of illegitimate birth shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the LORD.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? EUNUCH? WHERE COULD THESE EUNUCHS SERVE? READ: ESTHER 1: 10 -11 10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? EUNUCH? WHERE COULD THESE EUNUCHS SERVE? READ: ESTHER 2: 3 3 Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women's quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? EUNUCH? WHERE COULD THESE EUNUCHS SERVE? READ: ESTHER 2: 14 -15 14 In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name. 15 Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? EUNUCH? HOW DID EBED-MELECH SERVE? READ: JEREMIAH 38: 7 -10 7 Now Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon. When the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin, 8 Ebed-Melech went out of the king's house and spoke to the king, saying: 9 "My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is. For there is no more bread in the city. “ 10 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, "Take from here thirty men with you, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he dies. “ NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? EUNUCH? WHERE COULD THESE EUNUCHS SERVE? READ: DANIEL 1: 3 -4 3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king's descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. NKJV WAS DANIEL A EUNUCH?

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? GENTILE? READ: ISAIAH 11: 10 10 "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious. " NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? GENTILE? READ: ZECHARIAH 8: 20 -23 20 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, "Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts. I myself will go also. " 22 Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the LORD. ' 23 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. "'" NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree. “ WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? WHO DID PETER SAY WAS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD? READ: ACTS 10: 34 -35 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? WHAT AUTHORITY WAS GIVEN THIS EUNUCH? READ: ACTS 8: 26 -28 26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. " This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS EUNUCH? READ: ACTS 8: 38 -40 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES WHO IS THE FOREIGNER? GENTILES? WHAT DID CHRIST ABOLISH? READ: EPHESIANS 2: 14 -16 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 4 For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, 5 Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off. WHAT EUNUCHS IS THE LORD SPEAKING TO? WHAT WILL THE LORD GIVE THEM? HOW WILL THE LORD ACCOMPLISH THIS?

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 3 -5 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES HOW WILL THE LORD ACCOMPLISH THIS? READ: ISAIAH 42: 6 6 "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, NKJV READ: ISAIAH 49: 8 8 Thus says the LORD: "In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; NKJV WHAT COVENANT WILL THE LORD GIVE THEM?

READ: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 6 "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants — Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant — 7 Even them 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 nations. “ 8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him. "

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 6 "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants — Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant — 7 Even them 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 nations. “ 8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him. " WHAT FOREIGNERS IS THE LORD SPEAKING OF? GENTILES? OR JEWS IN EXILE? WHAT WILL THE SONS OF THESE FOREIGNERS DO? WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM?

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 6 "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants — Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant — WHAT FOREIGNERS IS THE LORD SPEAKING OF? GENTILES? OR JEWS IN EXILE? WHAT WILL THE SONS OF THESE FOREIGNERS DO? join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants keep from defiling the Sabbath And holds fast My covenant

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHAT FOREIGNERS IS THE LORD SPEAKING OF? GENTILES? OR JEWS IN EXILE? WHAT WILL THE SONS OF THESE FOREIGNERS DO? READ: JEREMIAH 50: 4 -5 4 "In those days and in that time, " says the LORD, "The children of Israel shall come, They and the children of Judah together; With continual weeping they shall come, And seek the LORD their God. 5 They shall ask the way to Zion, With their faces toward it, saying, 'Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD In a perpetual covenant That will not be forgotten. '

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 7 Even them 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 nations. “ WHAT FOREIGNERS IS THE LORD SPEAKING OF? GENTILES? OR JEWS IN EXILE? WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHAT FOREIGNERS IS THE LORD SPEAKING OF? GENTILES? OR JEWS IN EXILE? WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. READ: ISAIAH 2: 2 -3 2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD‘S house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths. “ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHAT FOREIGNERS IS THE LORD SPEAKING OF? GENTILES? OR JEWS IN EXILE? WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. READ: JEREMIAH 3: 17 -18 17 "At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts. 18 "In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHAT FOREIGNERS IS THE LORD SPEAKING OF? GENTILES? OR JEWS IN EXILE? WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. READ: MALACHI 1: 11 11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations, “ Says the LORD of hosts. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. WHAT DID JESUS SAY TO THE SAMARITAN WOMAN? READ: JOHN 4: 21 -24 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. " NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHAT FOREIGNERS IS THE LORD SPEAKING OF? GENTILES? OR JEWS IN EXILE? WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. WHAT DID JESUS SAY TO THE JEWS? READ: MATTHEW 21: 12 -13 12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer, ' but you have made it a 'den of thieves. '" NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHAT FOREIGNERS IS THE LORD SPEAKING OF? GENTILES? OR JEWS IN EXILE? WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. WHAT DOES THE LORD DESIRE? READ: PSALMS 141: 2 2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. NKJV READ: PSALMS 51: 17 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. WHAT DOES THE LORD DESIRE? READ: ROMANS 12: 1 -2 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. WHAT DOES THE LORD DESIRE? READ: 1 PETER 2: 4 -5 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHAT WILL THE LORD DO FOR THEM? Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. WHAT DID PAUL SAY ABOUT THIS? READ: HEBREWS 13: 15 -16 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. NKJV READ: 1 TIMOTHY 2: 8 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him. " WHAT FOREIGNERS IS THE LORD SPEAKING OF? GENTILES? OR JEWS IN EXILE? WHO WILL THE LORD GATHER? outcasts of Israel & Others besides WHY?

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him. " WHO WILL THE LORD GATHER? outcasts of Israel & Others besides READ: ISAIAH 11: 12 12 He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth.

WHO WILL THE LORD GATHER? outcasts of Israel & Others besides READ: DEUTERONOMY 30: 1 -5 1 "Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you, 2 and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you. 4 If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHO WILL THE LORD GATHER? outcasts of Israel & Others besides READ: EZEKIEL 34: 11 -13 11 'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES 8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him. " WHO WILL THE LORD GATHER? outcasts of Israel & Others besides READ: JOHN 10: 14 -16 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHO WILL THE LORD GATHER? outcasts of Israel & Others besides READ: EPHESIANS 1: 7 -10 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 6 -8 WHO WILL THE LORD GATHER? outcasts of Israel & Others besides READ: EPHESIANS 2: 19 -22 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. NKJV

READ: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS 9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you 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.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS 9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you 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. WHO ARE THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD? WHAT ARE THEY CALLED TO DO? come to devour WHO ARE THE WATCHMEN? WHAT DOES THE LORD SAY ABOUT THEM? His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS 9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest. WHO ARE THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD? WHAT ARE THEY CALLED TO DO? READ: 2 KINGS 15: 29 29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS 9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest. WHO ARE THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD? WHAT ARE THEY CALLED TO DO? READ: ISAIAH 9: 11 -12 11 Therefore the LORD shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on, 12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS 9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest. WHO ARE THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD? WHAT ARE THEY CALLED TO DO? READ: JEREMIAH 12: 7 -9 7 "I have forsaken My house, I have left My heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies. 8 My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest; It cries out against Me; Therefore I have hated it. 9 My heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture; The vultures all around are against her. Come, assemble all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour! NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS 9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest. WHO ARE THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD? WHAT ARE THEY CALLED TO DO? READ: JEREMIAH 50: 17 17 "Israel is like scattered sheep; The lions have driven him away. First the king of Assyria devoured him; Now at last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones. " NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS 9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest. WHO ARE THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD? WHAT ARE THEY CALLED TO DO? READ: EZEKIEL 34: 5 -6 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them. " NKJV

WHO ARE THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD? WHAT ARE THEY CALLED TO DO? READ: EZEKIEL 39: 17 -20 17 "And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: "Assemble yourselves and come; Gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal Which I am sacrificing for you, A great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, That you may eat flesh and drink blood. 18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, Drink the blood of the princes of the earth, Of rams and lambs, Of goats and bulls, All of them fatlings of Bashan. 19 You shall eat fat till you are full, And drink blood till you are drunk, At My sacrificial meal Which I am sacrificing for you. 20 You shall be filled at My table With horses and riders, With mighty men And with all the men of war, " says the Lord GOD. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 10 His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. WHO ARE THE WATCHMEN? PRIESTS? SHEPHERDS? PROPHETS? WHAT DOES THE LORD SAY ABOUT THEM?

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 10 His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. WHO ARE THE WATCHMEN? PRIESTS? SHEPHERDS? PROPHETS? READ: JEREMIAH 2: 8 8 The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD? ‘ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 10 His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. WHO ARE THE WATCHMEN? PRIESTS? SHEPHERDS? PROPHETS? READ: JEREMIAH 10: 21 21 For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 10 His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. WHO ARE THE WATCHMEN? PRIESTS? SHEPHERDS? PROPHETS? READ: JEREMIAH 6: 17 -19 17 Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!‘ But they said, 'We will not listen. ' 18 Therefore hear, you nations, And know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people — The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words Nor My law, but rejected it. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 WHO ARE THE WATCHMEN? PRIESTS? SHEPHERDS? PROPHETS? READ: JEREMIAH 14: 13 -15 13 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place. '" 14 And the LORD said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. 15 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land' — 'By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed! NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 WHO ARE THE WATCHMEN? PRIESTS? SHEPHERDS? PROPHETS? READ: EZEKIEL 3: 17 -21 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die, ' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 WHO ARE THE WATCHMEN? PRIESTS? SHEPHERDS? PROPHETS? READ: EZEKIEL 3: 17 -21 20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul. " NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 9 -10 WHO ARE THE WATCHMEN? PRIESTS? SHEPHERDS? PROPHETS? READ: EZEKIEL 33: 7 -9 7 "So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. NKJV

READ: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory. 12 "Come, " one says, "I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant. " NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory. 12 "Come, " one says, "I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant. " NKJV WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory. WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? READ: JEREMIAH 6: 13 13 “…from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely. NKJV READ: JEREMIAH 10: 21 21 For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? READ: JEREMIAH 22: 17 17 "Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, For shedding innocent blood, And practicing oppression and violence. " NKJV READ: JEREMIAH 23: 1 -2 1 "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings, " says the LORD. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? READ: EZEKIEL 22: 27 -30 27 Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. 28 Her prophets plastered them with un-tempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, ' when the LORD had not spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. 30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? READ: EZEKIEL 34: 2 -6 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? READ: EZEKIEL 34: 2 -6 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them. " NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? READ: HOSEA 4: 7 -10 7 "The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. 8 They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity. 9 And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds. 10 For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the LORD. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? READ: MICAH 3: 11 -12 11 Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us. " 12 Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? I will bring wine And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink WHAT DID THE LORD SAY TO AARON? READ: LEVITICUS 10: 8 -11 8 Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying: 9 "Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, 10 that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, 11 and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses. " NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? I will bring wine And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink WHAT DID THE LORD SAY ABOUT THE WICKED? READ: PSALMS 10: 5 -7 5 His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. 6 He has said in his heart, "I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity. " 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? I will bring wine And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink WHAT DID THE LORD SAY ABOUT THE WICKED? READ: ISAIAH 5: 11 -12 11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them! 12 The harp and the strings, The tambourine and flute, And wine are in their feasts; But they do not regard the work of the LORD, Nor consider the operation of His hands. NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? I will bring wine And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink WHAT DID THE LORD SAY ABOUT THE WICKED? READ: ISAIAH 22: 12 -13 12 And in that day the Lord GOD of hosts Called for weeping and for mourning, For baldness and for girding with sackcloth. 13 But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 ISRAEL'S IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? I will bring wine And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink WHAT DID THE LORD SAY ABOUT THE WICKED? READ: ISAIAH 22: 12 -13 12 And in that day the Lord GOD of hosts Called for weeping and for mourning, For baldness and for girding with sackcloth. 13 But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" NKJV

QUESTIONS: ISAIAH 56: 11 -12 WHO ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? I will bring wine And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT THE RICH MAN? READ: LUKE 12: 16 -20 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops? ‘ 18 So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry. "‘ 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? ' NKJV