Isaiah study & commentary

Isaiah 58:1-3

God repeatedly condemns empty religious activity and irresponsible rituals.  Isaiah was to lift his voice and not hold back in detailing to the people that they were still in sin.  On the surface, by appearance and by word:

• They sought Him daily
• Delight to know His ways
• They requested justice
• They approached Him

Yet, in reality, they sought other gods, trusted in other gods and other things.  The worship of Yahweh was mixed up in a buffet of other gods as if He were just another option. 

There was only one day of fasting called for in the law; the Day of Atonement.  But fasting had become a means of worship that soon became a ritual of men.  They fasted when they wanted something.  They didn't get what they desired so they assumed God had not seen.  Was He not paying attention?  Had they wasted their time?  Did they miss a few meals for nothing?  They wondered what game God was playing.

Isaiah 58:4-5

Yet, where did God say, if they missed a meal or two, He owed them some blessing?  Did they seriously think they had God in debted to them?  God blasted them for their so called fast.  They weren't afflicted, in fact, they found pleasure this activity.  They continued to exploit and oppress their workers and during this fast (not allowing them to fast).  They fasted for selfish reasons, to come out on top of some strife or win a debate or to overwhelm some physical confrontation.  This isn't a fast that will make you voice heard on high.  Not even close. 

If it were a fast as chosen by God, it would look vastly different.  It would be characterized by the spirit of the broken and contrite.  The bulrush is the head of the wheat bent over, bowed down, humbled.  The humility would bring them to sackcloth and ashes. 

Isaiah 58:6-9

The fast chosen by God would not be skipping a few meals to get His attention in hopes He would grant a wish.  But a humility, an understanding of who He is and remembrance of who we would be without Him.  It would become action, practical application of love and mercy in a fallen world. 

• Loose the bonds of wickedness – There were so many stuck in a wicked life, blinded in their rebellion.  They were unable to see their way out because their darkened hearts and stiff necks.  Nothing's changed, it's the same today.  But no one is beyond His reach.
• Remove the heavy burdens (works) – The work would never end, trying to do more good than bad.  Forever trying to create some 'god pleasing' offset in our indebtedness.  But the unrighteousness isn't erased by good works.  The penalty of sin is death.  Only God could erase this debt (and He did, through Christ work on the cross). 
• Free the oppressed – The oppressed were everywhere and they seemed to be constantly exploited.  Solomon talked much about the oppressed.  Even as king, he felt incapable of properly dealing with them.  These are the folks whose lives seem to bear and unfair burden, carry others by their hard work. 
• Break the yoke – The yoke was placed on the neck of the beast of burden, treading out grain or pulling the plow all day.  It was mindless existence, tedious, joyless – not the life God intended for His people.
• Feed the hungry with what's been provided to you – They were among them, their own brothers and sisters, yet they had become accustomed to taking care of themselves to the detriment of others.  Every man for himself!  God said to feed them with your provision.  This is what Jesus told the disciple when He multiplied the loaves and fishes.  Jesus is the bread of life, provided to you – have you shared your bread?
• Cloth the naked – As a believer, you have been clothed in Christ, clothed in righteousness.  This isn't something you deserved or earned.  Why would you not see another clothed?  There are many all around us that sit in their sin, naked, ashamed and in the path of the wrath of God should their life end.  Should we not attempt to cloth them?  Many would look the other way, as the Jews were guilty of.

This characterizes a true fast, as the Lord would have it.  Then:

• Your light will shine
• Your healing will come quickly
• Your righteousness will be known (reputation)
• God will have your back

Then, because your heart will be shown to be in the right place; and only then, God will hear your cry.  He will say, "Here I am."  The cry will be meaningful, legitimate, selfless and glorify the Lord, not men.

Isaiah 58:10-12

Before fasting, they needed to consider repentance.  True repentance caused a change in action; stop doing some things, start doing others.  They were to stop:

• Placing a yoke on others, oppressing and treating people as beasts of burden.
• 'Pointing their finger' was to make accusation and blame toward others.  They needed to take responsibility for their own lives.
• 'Speaking wickedness' was morally objectionable speech.

These three sins of commission seem to be linked together in their actions, attitude and speech as it related to others.  The measure of leadership seems to be linked to their compassion and ability to help the poor in a real way. 

They, likewise, were to start doing these things that they were sinning in their omission:

• 'Extend their soul to the hungry', not just food.  From a distance they could give food to the hungry and ignore them, their suffering and humanity.  Extending their soul to them was to join them in their plight (as Christ did for us).
• 'Satisfy their soul' was to feed them eternal things, not just temporal. 

When these sins are corrected, the Lord said he 'will' and 'shall' do certain things; guide, satisfy, strengthen, grow, build, raise up and rename.  From exile, this would be a great promise for those coming back.  But with the messianic flavor of the passage, we can look past that to the day when the Lord reigns from His millennial throne.  Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Repairer of the Breach (holes in walls) and the Restorer of Streets with dwellings.  Isaiah said 'you' shall be called these things; this was being identified with the Lord.  We should liken this to bearing the name of Christ – being called 'Christians'. 

Isaiah 58:13-14

People had grown accustomed to profaning the Sabbath.  They went about business as usual, seeking their own pleasures at their own will without reservation.  They were trampling the Sabbath by trampling their wine presses on the Sabbath.  They were to 'turn away' (repent) of this trampling and profaning.  If they respected the Sabbath, treated it as a holy day and honored the Lord by refraining from their ways, then the way would be opened to them.  They would delight themselves in the Lord.  They would live a life where God would bless them and care for them in abundance (see Deut 32:13).   This is the inheritance of Jacob; the fulfillment of the covenant promise made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

©2018 Doug Ford