ESOCS Devotional 7 March 2026 – Salvation For All Nations By Faith
MEMORY VERSE: “For the sovereign Lord, who brings back the outcast of Israel, says, I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel.” Isaiah 56:8 NLT
TEXT: ISAIAH 56:1-8
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.”
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 [a]them an everlasting name
That shall not be cut off.
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.”
READ OTHER ESOCS DEVOTIONAL HERE
Ironically, the Jews of ancient Israel had concluded in error that God’s promise of Genesis 12:3 to Abraham was exclusive to them. This flawed viewpoint of the Pharisees and the Scribes led them into judging the Gentiles unworthy before God. Just like the behavioural response of the older son to his prodigal sibling’s return, after squandering his portion in riotous living (Luke 15:11-32). Our Father in heaven is ever ready and willing to receive every sinner who turns back in penitence and repentance – whether Jew or Gentile (Luke 15:7, 10). The Pharisees and the Scribes were not alone in this selfish tendency and anti-God attitude, for even the apostles were guilty as well (Acts 10:1-31).
In our text, God’s promise of hope of salvation is not only in favour of any particular race. The promise of the Lord in this context focusses on those against whom the nationalistic Jews were prejudiced – the Gentiles. More emphatically speaking here, God’s grace is to all men. Yes, the Sabbath was given as a sign of the covenant that God had established with national Israel.
However, in this particular circumstance, the idea behind God’s extension of His promise of hope appears to be in reference to those Gentiles who come to God’s people and keep the sign of the covenant; that is, keep the Sabbath. When national Israel was still in existence, one had to keep the Sabbath as an indication that he submitted to the law of the covenant. It follows therefore that, any foreign national who wanted to make his home with the Israelites had to honour the Sabbath. Moreover, any foreigner who became a proselyte was no more to be discriminated against, or made to feel he had no part with God’s people.
God’s love for the entire world moved Him to sacrifice His only begotten Son for all humanity (John 3:16). Also, as many as would receive Him (Jew or Gentile) are declared sons of God, automatically (John 1:12).
Reflections
- God did not send His Son to judge or condemn anyone, but to call all to repentance. Do you believe?
Prayer
- Lord God of Israel, grant me the grace to be in the number.
Further Reading: Hosea 6:1-6; Luke 10:17-24; 1 Corinthians 15:35-40
ESOCS Devotional 7 March 2026
