Isaiah 56

“For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant, 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.” (Isaiah 56:4–5, NKJV)

The Sabbath is the seventh day when God rested from His work of creation. God set it apart and blessed it. Keeping the Sabbath day holy was one of the ways Judah could keep God’s law while in Babylon. The Sabbath commandment was never given to the Gentiles. But for those Jews living in Babylon, the Sabbath was the distinguishing sign that they were God’s covenant people. It helped protect them from being assimilated into the Babylonian culture.

In Deuteronomy 23, God prohibited all eunuchs and certain foreign nations from coming into the assembly of the LORD. But now by keeping the Sabbaths and holding fast to the LORD’s covenant, foreigners and eunuchs would have the opportunity to become Jewish proselytes. God would treat them as sons and daughters and give them an everlasting name that would never be cut off. The door of salvation was beginning to open to those outside of Israel.

It is important to point out that their salvation was not based upon them keeping the Sabbath but on their faith. Justification has never come by keeping the law but by faith. The fact that they kept the Sabbath and other laws of God’s covenant with Israel proved that they believed in the LORD. Faith justified them and obedience was the fruit of their faith.

This principle carries into the New Testament:

“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.” (Romans 3:28–30, ESV)

I know of no greater doctrine than to know that God counts me righteous simply because I believe in Jesus Christ. Having been justified, I now seek to keep His commandments because I love Him. Blessed assurance!