“Preserve justice and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come
And My righteousness to be revealed.
2 “How blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who takes hold of it;
Who keeps from profaning the sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say,
“The LORD will surely separate me from His people ”
Nor let the eunuch say, “Behold, 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 To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial,
And a name better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off.
6 “Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD,
To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath
And holds fast My covenant;
7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain
And make them joyful in My house of prayer
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;
For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares,
“Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered.” Isaiah 56:1-8. (Emphasis added.)
This Scripture is important to read for a number of reasons. First, we get a good understanding of the precious privilege of being in God’s “house of prayer”. The precious privilege extends to “every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath And holds fast My covenant; Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer“. Second, we get a good understanding of the importance of prayer in church. It is called a “house of prayer”. Third, God blesses us by making us “joyful” in His house of prayer.
In my church, Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA) here in Pinellas Park, Florida, we have a special time in our Sunday evening worship service when anyone in the congregation can present his or her prayer requests and our Pastor will include such requests in the prayer time and will pray for them with the congregation. Personally, I have experienced the joy of praying for my family and others, and I have experienced the joy of God granting many of these prayer requests in wonderful ways. John 16:24 states: “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” Sunday evening worship service’s time for prayer is truly a special and joyful time that I have grown to appreciate more and more.
But, even more important than these two joys of praying and experiencing the granting of prayers is the joy of “being glad in the LORD”. When we understand the LORD and His great works in church, it helps us to be glad in the LORD. And yet, even beyond such understanding, joy is given to us in ways that we do not understand. The fruit of the Spirit is joy. Galatians 5:22. God simply makes us joyful, and we should not limit His means of grace to reasons that we can articulate which make us so joyful. We can simply conclude: “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 