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| 1 Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. |
And do justice – "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne." (Psa. 89:14) T124
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| 2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. |
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| 3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. |
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| 4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; |
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| 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. |
A name better – The name given is made to refer to position or of official relationship, so that the position is meant when the word "name" is used. R48:2*
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| 6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
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| 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. |
My house – The Temple then was merely a figure of a greater Temple, the Church, which is now in preparation. CR420:1; R5713:2
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16) R5713:2
House of prayer – The glorified Church, symbolized by the Temple with its Shekinah glory, will be the house of prayer for all nations. R5713:6; CR457:2
Men will approach God through the glorified Church, in which his presence will be manifested, and his mercy will be available to all. R5714:1
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| 8 The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. |
Outcasts of Israel – The publicans and sinners who heard the Gospel message gladly, but whom the Scribes and Pharisees rejected. R5004:6
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| 9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. |
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| 10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. |
His watchmen – The clergy of today. R330:4, R717:3
Blind – Of mental perception. R718:3
Because they hold the traditions of men, they cannot see the great prize of our calling. R330:5
Describing the last, or Laodicean, stage of the Gospel house. R717:3, R718:4
Are all ignorant – Of the character and purposes of God. R718:3
"Lo, they have rejected the Word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them?" (Jer. 8:9) C157
Failing to recognize, and therefore rejecting, the spiritual King now present. C179
Dumb dogs – D-- D--s. F287[F287]
They cannot bark – Cannot speak faithfully for the Master. R718:3
They refuse to awaken the household under their care to a knowledge of Present Truth. R2674:5
Ministerial etiquette intimidating and sealing the lips of any disposed to lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their sins and dangers. R2106:1
Sleeping – Dreaming or talking in their sleep. F287
Lying down – Lazy. F287
Loving to slumber – Loving ease. F287; HG712:6*
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| 11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. |
They are shepherds – Ministers who outwardly pose as God's servants but in reality are hypocrites. SM134:1
Hireling shepherds, "Whose own the sheep are not." (John 10:12) D62; HG715:6
To their own way – Or ism; turned away to fables and science, falsely so-called. R718:3
Welfare, self-interest. F287, R330:4
For his gain – High-sounding titles and lucrative church appointments. R718:3, R3959:4; D61
"The priests thereof teach for hire." (Micah 3:11) F287
From his quarter – His denomination or sect. C179; D61; F287; R3449:3, R3748:2; HG715:3
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| 12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. |
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