The design of this chapter is to reprove the Jews for a vain dependence on the performance of the outward forms of worship. The nation is represented as diligent in the performance of the external rites of their religion, and as expecting to avert the divine judgments by the performance of those rit... [ Continue Reading ]
CRY ALOUD - Margin, ‘With the throat;’ that is, says Gesenius, with open throat, with full voice coming from the throat and breast; while one who speaks low uses only the lips and tongue 1 Samuel 1:13. The Chaldee here introduces the word prophet, ‘O prophet, cry aloud.’ The Septuagint renders it, ‘... [ Continue Reading ]
YET THEY SEEK ME DAILY - The whole description here is appropriate to the character of formalists and hypocrites; and the idea is, that public worship by sacrifice was celebrated daily in the temple, and was not intermitted. It is not improbable also that they kept up the regular daily service in th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE HAVE WE FASTED - They had fasted much, evidently with the expectation of delivering themselves from impending calamities, and securing the divine favor. They are here introduced as saying that they had been disappointed. God had not interposed as they had expected. Chagrined and mortified,... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, YE FAST FOR STRIFE AND DEBATE - This is a third characteristic of their manner of fasting, and a third reason why God did not regard and accept it. They were divided into parties and factions, and probably made their fastings an occasion of augmented contention and strife. How often has this... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT SUCH A FAST THAT I HAVE CHOSEN? - Is this such a mode of fasting as I have appointed and as I approve? A DAY FOR A MAN TO AFFLICT HIS SOUL? - Margin, ‘To afflict his soul for a day.’ The reading in the text is the more correct; and the idea is, that the pain and inconvenience experienced by th... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THIS THE FAST THAT I HAVE CHOSEN? - Fasting is right and proper; but that which God approves will prompt to, and will be followed by, deeds of justice, kindness, charity. The prophet proceeds to specify very particularly what God required, and when the observance of seasons of fasting would b... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT NOT TO DEAL THY BREAD TO THE HUNGRY? - The word renderd ‘deal’ (פרס _pâras_), means to divide, to distribute. The idea is, that we are to apportion among the poor that which will be needful for their support, as a father does to his children. This is everywhere enjoined in the Bible, and was... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THY LIGHT - (See the notes at Isaiah 44:7). The idea here is, that if they were faithful in the discharge of their duty to God, he would bless them with abundant prosperity (compare Job 11:17). The image is, that such prosperity would come on the people like the spreading light of the mor... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALT THOU CALL - The sense is, that if we go before God renouncing all our sins, and desirous of doing our duty, then we have a right to expect that he will hear us. But if we go indulging still in sin; if we are false and hollow and hypocritical in our worship; or if, while we keep up the reg... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF THOU DRAW OUT THY SOUL TO THE HUNGRY - Lowth, on the authority of eight manuscripts, renders this, ‘If thou bring forth thy bread to the hungry.’ So the Syriac and Noyes. But the authority is not sufficient to justify the change in the text, nor is it necessary. The word ‘soul’ here is synony... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SHALL GUIDE THEE CONTINUALLY - Yahweh will go before you and will lead you always. AND SATISFY THY SOUL IN DROUGHT - (See the notes at Isaiah 41:17). The word rendered ‘drought’ (Margin, ‘droughts;’ Hebrew, צחצחות _tsach__e__tsâchôth_) means “dry places” - places exposed to the inten... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT SHALL BE OF THEE - They that spring from thee; or thy people. SHALL BUILD THE OLD WASTE PLACES - Shall repair the old ruins, and restore the desolate cities and fields to their former beauty. This language is taken from the condition of Judea during the long captivity at Babylon. The... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU TURN AWAY THY FOOT FROM THE SABBATH - The evident meaning of this is, that they were sacredly to observe the Sabbath, and not to violate or pollute it (see the notes at Isaiah 56:2). The idea, says Grotius, is, that they were not to travel on the Sabbath day on ordinary journeys. The ‘foot’... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALT THOU DELIGHT THYSELF IN THE LORD - That is, as a consequence of properly observing the Sabbath, thou shalt find pleasure in Yahweh. It will be a pleasure to draw near to him, and you shall no longer be left to barren ordinances and to unanswered prayers. The delight or pleasure which God’... [ Continue Reading ]