Reading 1 - 1Sa 13:13,14
"Samuel said to them, 'The LORD is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.' 'He is witness,' they said" (1Sa 12:5).
'You acted foolishly,' Samuel said [to Saul]. 'You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure' " (1Sa 13:13,14).
Saul was still king, but his descendants would not rule Israel. Even Saul himself was later rejected (1Sa 15:23) in favor of David. But had Saul not failed, even then his grandsons, etc (perhaps sons of daughter Michal by David) might have reigned in Israel. Note, however, that Michal was childless (2Sa 6:23) -- so that there was no chance of any of Saul's line continuing on the throne in their role as sons of David.
Reading 2 - Isa 56:3
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost" (Isa 55:1).
The "foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD" (Isa 56:3) suggests the Gibeonites, willing to be hewers of wood and drawers of water (Jos 9:27). "There are indications that in Hezekiah's time the temple staff of such Nethinim -- that is, those given or appointed to service of Yahweh -- was augmented by the capture of Assyrian and Egyptian prisoners, and also by the gifts of slaves which neighboring countries sent to Hezekiah after the Assyrian overthrow (Isa 14:1-3; 45:14; 18:7; 2Ch 32:23; Psa 76:11)" (Harry Whittaker, "Isaiah").
Isa 56:7
A HOUSE OF PRAYER: Not just a house where prayer is offered -- which is true enough -- but also a "house" (a spiritual house) built up by and consisting of prayers offered by many individuals. With our prayers we "build" this "house" in which God dwells.
ALL NATIONS: Not just Gentiles along with Jews, but "eunuchs" as well (v 4)!
AN EVERLASTING NAME: Implying resurrection.
Reading 3 -Rev 21:8
"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints)" (Rev 19:7,8).
"It will be perceived, then, that the church as defined, is in the present state the espoused of Christ, but not actually married. She is in the formative state, being moulded under the hand of God. When she shall be completed, God will then present her to the Man from heaven, 'arrayed in fine linen, clean and white'... The presentation of Eve to the first Adam was the signal of rejoicing to the Morning Stars; and we perceive that the manifestation of Messiah's Queen will be attended with the 'Alleluia' of a great multitude, sounding like the roaring of many waters, and the echoes of mighty thunderings, saying, 'let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to the Lord God omnipotent: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his betrothed hath made herself ready' (v 7)" (John Thomas, "Elpis Israel" 48).
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