Chapter 55 is, we saw last week, a message of grace to sinners; chapter 56 is, at its beginning, for saints—for believers of the dispensation which will shortly follow the present one.
The chapter opens with what is neither the law of Moses, nor the present revelation of God. It is a distinct word for the day in view of which it was uttered. The believers of that day will be anxiously waiting for deliverance from their enemies, and not without deep concern about their sins, in view of the appearing of Israel’s Messiah, shortly to occur.
They are to keep judgment and to do justice (or righteousness) because Jehovah’s salvation is near to come, and His righteousness to be revealed (verse 1). Blessed is the man that doeth this and the son of man that layeth hold on it (or holdeth fast by it).
Now one of the great blessings which the Christian enjoys (or should enjoy) is that salvation is already possessed. Thus Ephesians 2 declares, “by grace ye are saved.” Truly, in one aspect salvation is still before us (Romans 3:1111There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (Romans 3:11); Philippians 2:12; 3:20-2112Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)
20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21)) but we have already the great first need met, soul salvation (1 Peter 1:99Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:9)). This the waiting saints of the day to come will not know; for them it is “near to come”, and God’s righteousness “to be revealed”,—which compare with Romans 3:21-2421But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:21‑24) showing the present work of God’s grace.
The sabbath is not for Christians (Colossians 2:16-1716Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16‑17)) and it is significant that the Lord Jesus lay in death throughout the whole extent of that particularly high sabbath which followed His cross. He rose from the dead on the first day of the week, and Pentecost, the day of the Holy Spirit’s forming the Church (Acts 2), being the 50th day after the resurrection, was also the first day of the week. There was plenty of opportunity for the inspired writer of the Acts to have mentioned the sabbath as a day set apart for the Church, for Christians, if it had been so, but in the nine times where the word is used, not one is in connection with meetings of and for believers.
If there is any one day of greater significance than others to the Christian, it is the first day of the week, and we find that day spoken of, surely not without significance, in Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7). We believe that this day, the day of Christ’s resurrection, and of His Church’s founding, is the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:1010I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10)).
The sabbath was given in connection with the earth, commemorating God’s rest after the six days of Genesis 1, but that rest was quickly broken (see John 5:16, 1716And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. (John 5:16‑17)). Christianity is not a development of, nor a supplement to Judaism, but a new thing, as the Epistle to the Galatians shows.
The grace of God will provide a portion both for the son of the stranger— the Gentile—who seeks Him (verses 3, 6, 7), and the childless eunuchs (verses 4-5). Every heart will be satisfied, and full of His praise.
Verse 8 speaks of Him; the whole world will seek Him, when the judgments of the living are over and the wicked are gone.
Chapters 55, 56, 57 are one subject; disclosing the grace and the judgment with which the Millennium will be introduced. We have been reading of the grace of God, and now we come to His judgments.
In verse 9 is a call to destroy, to lay waste; it is addressed to the Gentile oppressors of the Jews, and concerns the land of Israel. The watchmen,—those who should have been on guard, watching with tender care over the flock that was Jehovah’s, are blind; without knowledge; dumb dogs that cannot bark; dreaming, living a life of ease; greedy, too, living for themselves and utterly indifferent to God and without true regard for His people.