Isaiah 56:1,6-8 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 56:1,6-8 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 56Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. Verse 6And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant- Verse 7these 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. Verse 8Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.
Devotion
There are many hints in scripture about the wideness of God’s purposes for the world. In Genesis 12 we hear of Abraham’s call “to be a blessing.” Earlier in chapter 25, Isaiah casts a vision of the mountain of the Lord, with a feast of rich food, and with all nations streaming to that mountain. Now Isaiah addresses a people who have just returned to their homeland after living in exile among foreigners. They are glad to be back in the place where they can be God’s distinctive people again. And yet, here is God’s vision for them: that God’s house will be called a house of prayer for ALL people. In many ways this is a vision still to be realized even for us. When we want to circle the wagons and protect ourselves, God calls us to open the doors and proclaim God’s mercy. We can open our doors and still be God’s distinctive people, people of grace.
Prayer
Gracious God, may we seek your vision as we gather in our house of prayer, and may we go out with joy to gather others to proclaim your grace. In your name. Amen.