Isaiah 58:1-14
Q.1. Did Judah still practice their religion? Why did God ignore them? What was wrong with their religion? What advice did God give the nation? What difference would repentance make? – (Isa.58:1-9)
God commanded Isaiah – Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins (Isa.58:1). Judah’s religious observances went on as usual. However, God was not taking any notice of their religious fervour (Isa.58:1-3). Why? The reason is plain. Judah had divided their religion into one compartment, and their daily practice into another – 6 Is this not the fast which I choose? To loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isa.58:6-7). God called on the nation to change its ways and promised the penitent – 8 Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, `Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness (Isa.58:8-9).
Q.2. Did God hold out hope for Judah? What promise did God make to the penitent of heart? How should they approach the Sabbath? Could they rely on His promises? – (Isa.58:10-14)
It is clear that God was offering hope to Judah – 10 And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted. Then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. 11 And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell (Isa.58:10-12). God also addressed the unsatisfactory way the nation observed the Sabbath. He called on them to leave their traditional apathy and replace it with genuine worship – If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honourable, and honour it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure and speaking your own word (Isa.58:13 c.f. Heb.10:23-25). If we worship that way – then you will take delight in the Lord …! (Isa.58:14). How sure is the promise? … The mouth of the Lord has spoken (Isa.58:14).