603-588 B.C.

Isaiah 58)

1 Cry aloud (= Heb. "call with the throat": i.e. deep down as in the oriental throat. It denotes not a wild cry, but solemnity with restraint), spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show My People their rebellion, and the house of Jacob their sins. (see 2:5)

58:2-14. Contrasted Conduct.

B  g¹  2-7. Condition. Legal observances.
    h¹  8,9-. Recompense. Illumination.
   g²  -9,10-. Condition. Charity.
    h²  -10-12. Recompense. Illumination.
   g³  13. Condition. Legal observance-Sabbath.
    h³  14. Recompense. Ascendancy.

2 Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: (see 1:4) they ask of Me the ordinances of righteousness; they take delight in approaching to God.
3 “Why have we fasted,” say they, “and You see not? why have we afflicted our souls, (this is a strictly Levitical technical expression [Lev.16:29,31; 23:27,32. Num.29:7]. This shows that the People were not in exile as alleged, but in the Land. See also the references to other observances below [v.13]. Note that in Chapters 58 and 59 we have the reference to the Day of Atonement; in Chapters 60 and 61, to the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. Ch. 60 refers to the feast of Tabernacles with its "in-gathering" [vv.3-5,13], which followed the Day of Atonement [Lev.23:27,34]) and You take no knowledge?” Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors.
4 Behold, you all fast for strife and debate, (referring to Day of Atonement, which was still observed; and in the Land, not in exile, as alleged) and to smite with the fist of lawlessness: and you all shall not fast as you all do this day, if you all would make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? (see 1:29) a day for mankind to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush (see 9:14), and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? will thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the pangs of lawlessness (see Ps. 73:4), to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you all break every yoke?
7 Is it not to break your bread to the hungry, (the technical term for giving or partaking of food, as in Luke 24:30,35. Acts 2:42,46; 20:7,11; 27:35. 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:24. Cp. Job 42:11. Lam. 4:4. Ezek. 18:7; 24:17. Hos. 9:4) and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that do not you hide yourself from your own flesh? (see Gen. 29:14. Cp. Neh. 5:1-11)

8 Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health (Heb. your healing. referring to the healing of wounds) shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall bring up your rear-guard. (see Ex.14:19,20)
9 Then shall you call, and the Lord shall answer; you shall cry (in distress), and He shall say, “Here I am.”

If you take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

10 And if you draw out your soul (some codices read, "give out your bread") to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul;

then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness become as the noon day:
11 And the Lord shall [gently] guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in great drought, and invigorate your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 And they that shall be of you shall rebuild (this is still future) the old waste places: you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in (or, leading home).

13 If you turn away your feet from the sabbath (see 56:2. Christ is our Sabbath = Rest), from doing your pleasures on My set apart day; and call the sabbath a delight, the set apart of the Lord, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasures, nor speaking vain words: (or, keep making talk)

14 Then shall you revel in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth, (see Deut. 32:13; 33:29) and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.

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