Isaiah 58:1-4

Cry aloud, spare not

“Cry aloud”

“Cry with the throat.

” Crying with the throat or from the lungs is here opposed to a simple motion of the lips and tongue (1 Samuel 1:13). The common version, “Cry aloud,” is therefore substantially correct, though somewhat vague. The LXX in like manner paraphrases it ἐν ἰσχύι. J.D. Michaelis reads, “as loud as thou canst.” The positive command is enforced by the negative one, “spare not,” as in Is

54:2. The loudness of the call is intended to suggest the importance of thesubject, and, perhaps, the insensibility of those to be convinced. The prophet here seems to turn away from avowed apostates to hypocritical professors of the truth. (J. A. Alexander.)

Conviction before comfort

When our Lord Jesus, promised to send the Comforter, He added, “When He is come, He shall convince;” for conviction must prepare for comfort, and must also separate between the precious and the vile, and mark out those to whom comfort doth not belong. God had appointed this prophet to comfort His people (Isaiah 40:1); here He appoints him to convince them, and show them their sins. (M. Henry.)

The minister must be faithful

He must be vehement and in good earnest, must cry aloud, and not spare. Not spare them, nor touch them with his reproofs as if he were afraid of hurting them, but search the wound to the bottom; lay it bare to the bone; not spare himself, or his own pains, but cry as loud as he can. Though he spend his strength, and waste his spirits; though he get their ill-will by it, and get himself into an ill-name; yet he must not spare. The trumpet doth not give an uncertain sound, but, though loud and shrill, is intelligible. So must his alarms be, giving them warning of the fatal consequences of sin (Ezekiel 33:3). (M. Henry.)

National sins protested against

I. TESTIFY AGAINST SOME OF THE PREVAILING SINS AND CRYING ABOMINATIONS OF THIS LAND.

1. Pride.

2. Luxury.

3. Pleasure.

4. Gluttony.

5. Drunkenness.

6. Swearing.

7. Sabbath-breaking.

8. Lying.

9. Avarice.

10. Adultery and fornication.

11. Profane contempt of holy things.

12. The evil passions which agitate the bosoms of men, and which receive the sanction of a large portion of the community--not as casual evils, but as principles of action, and tests of what is called highmindedness and honour. Some of the most prevailing of these, when stripped of their specious coverings, and exhibited in their proper character, are--ambition, envy, malice, and revenge.

13. Flagrant insincerity., and wicked abuse of professed acts of public worship.

14. Hardened impenitence.

II. URGE WITH FAITHFULNESS AND IMPARTIALITY THE SENTENCE OF GOD DENOUNCED UPON EACH. (R. Shittier.)

Selfish piety

Selfish piety is the popular piety of this age and land.

I. IT IS VERY EARNEST. The piety’, of Israel at this time seems to have been anything but a dull and inactive power; it was very busy.

1. It was earnest in study. “They seek Me daily,” etc. (Isaiah 58:2).

2. It is earnest in prayer. “They ask of Me the ordinances of justice,” etc.

3. It is earnest in its self-sacrifice. It endures lastings and self-mortifications (Isaiah 58:3).

4. It is earnest in its churchism. “Ye fast for strife and debate,” etc. It would seem that the Israelites were divided into religious parties or factions, some professing to be more orthodox than others. There was a rivalry, therefore, in their devotion; one tried to excel the other, and the competition ran so high that they began to “smite each other with the fist.”

5. It is earnest in its professions. They made “their voice to be heard on high.”

II. IT IS TERRIBLY REPREHENSIBLE. The prophet is here called upon to “Cry aloud, spare not,” etc.

1. It is an insult to God. “He abhors the sacrifice where not the heart is found.” This selfish piety is the most abhorrent of all impieties.

2. It is pernicious to souls. This selfish piety inflicts incalculable injury upon its possessor: it warps the judgment, it deadens the conscience, it awakens false hopes generates diseased affections and dehumanizes the man. Nor is the injury confined to the possessor himself. (Homilist.)