Cry aloud, so the Lord calls out to the prophet in bidding him rebuke the hypocritical conduct of the people, SPARE NOT, in an indulgence which in this case would amount to a sinful weakness, for which reason a crying at the top of the voice is demanded, LIFT UP THY VOICE LIKE A TRUMPET, with the fa... [ Continue Reading ]
A SHARP REPROOF OF HYPOCRISY... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet they seek Me daily, the very Lord whom they have rejected, AND DELIGHT TO KNOW MY WAYS, pretending an earnestness which they are far from feeling, inquiring into the reason for God's manner of dealing with them, AS A NATION THAT DID RIGHTEOUSNESS, as though they were a nation practicing the cove... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, in the spirit of self-righteousness, which caused them to act as though God had been placed under obligations by their fasting, AND THOU SEEST NOT? the Lord ignoring them on account of their hypocrisy. WHEREFORE HAVE WE AFFLICTED OUR SOUL, by the hardships of fast... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, while they were practicing their wicked oppression, they made a great show of their supposed piety, AND TO SMITE WITH THE FIST OF WICKEDNESS, not hesitating even to strike blows in tyrannizing their laborers; YE SHALL NOT FAST AS YE DO THIS DAY TO MAKE YOUR VOI... [ Continue Reading ]
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? Could the Lord accept their fasting as an expression of repentance? IS IT TO BOW DOWN HIS HEAD AS A BULRUSH, affecting a sorrow which he was far from feeling, AND TO SPREAD SACKCLOTH AND ASHES UNDER HIM? to make that his bed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bands of wickedness, to release the oppressed laborers, TO UNDO THE HEAVY BURDENS, which these tyrants had laid upon their men as upon pack-animals, AND TO LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE, AND THAT YE BREAK EVERY YOKE? Note the heaping of synonymous ex... [ Continue Reading ]
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, to share it with him who is in need, AND THAT THOU BRING THE POOR THAT ARE CAST OUT, those without a home, without a roof to call their own, TO THY HOUSE; WHEN THOU SEEST THE NAKED THAT THOU COVER HIM, by providing him with clothing, AND THAT THOU HIDE NOT... [ Continue Reading ]
Then, namely, when a person acts in accordance with the suggestion made in the first part of the chapter, SHALL THY LIGHT BREAK FORTH AS THE MORNING, like the dawn of the Orient, which speedily covers the sky, AND THINE HEALTH SHALL SPRING FORTH SPEEDILY, the spiritual healing going on with great ra... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLESSINGS FOLLOWING TRUE REPENTANCE... [ Continue Reading ]
Then, namely, when this wonderful fellowship obtains, SHALT THOU CALL, AND THE LORD SHALL ANSWER, with a ready assistance; THOU SHALT CRY, appealing to Him for help, AND HE SHALL SAY, HERE I AM, indicating His presence and readiness to help with the customary answer. IF THOU TAKE AWAY FROM THE MIDST... [ Continue Reading ]
and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, opening his heart in true mercy, AND SATISFY THE AFFLICTED SOUL, offering it the desired relief, THEN SHALL THY LIGHT RISE IN OBSCURITY, in the midst of the darkness of this vale of tears, AND THY DARKNESS, what seems to be the worst form of affliction, B... [ Continue Reading ]
and the Lord shall guide thee continually, throughout life, AND SATISFY THY SOUL IN DROUGHT, whenever a time of spiritual want comes, AND MAKE FAT THY BONES, strengthening a man's frame for endurance; AND THOU SHALT BE LIKE A WATERED GARDEN, a park with luxuriant growth, AND LIKE A SPRING OF WATER W... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that shall be of thee, their descendants, the members of their nation, SHALL BUILD THE OLD WASTE PLACES, changing ruins into inhabited dwellings; THOU SHALT RAISE UP THE FOUNDATIONS OF MANY GENERATIONS, all the cities of the Holy Land, but especially Jerusalem; AND THOU SHALT BE CALLED THE... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, the Sabbath being regarded as holy ground, which no unholy foot dared touch, FROM DOING THY PLEASURE ON MY HOLY DAY, whatever pleases the natural heart of man, AND CALL THE SABBATH A DELIGHT, refreshment for the soul, THE HOLY OF THE LORD, honorable, keep... [ Continue Reading ]
then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, finding the soul's true refreshment in Him; AND I WILL CAUSE THEE TO RIDE UPON THE HIGH PLACES OF THE EARTH, once more to occupy the hills of their homeland, AND FEED THEE WITH THE HERITAGE OF JACOB, THY FATHER, enjoying all the blessings promised to that... [ Continue Reading ]