_Cry aloud_ Be faithful, plain, and earnest in thy addresses, remonstrances, reproofs, and exhortations to and among my people; _and spare not_ Forbear not to speak whatsoever I command thee for their conviction and reformation. _Lift up thy voice like a trumpet_ Be not afraid to exert thy voice and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet they seek me daily_ They cover all their wickedness with a profession of religion, from time to time resorting to my house, pretending to ask counsel of me, and to desire and seek my favour and blessing. _And delight to know my ways_ That is, either, 1st, They seem to delight to know them, men... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore have we fasted_, &c. They complain of hard usage from God; that although they prayed, and fasted, and observed the rest of his ordinances, all which are comprehended under the title of _fasting_, all their labour was lost, and God neither delivered nor regarded them. _Wherefore have we af... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, ye fast for strife_ Your fasting days, wherein you ought, in a special manner, to implore the mercy of God, and to show compassion to men, you employ in injuring or quarrelling with your brethren, your servants, or debtors, or in contriving mischief against them. Or the meaning is, that “th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is not this the fast that I have chosen?_ Or _approve_, as before, Isaiah 58:5. Or ought not such a fast to be accompanied with such things as these? He now proceeds to show the concomitants of a true fast; namely, to exercise works of justice and charity. _To loose the bands of wickedness_ Namely,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is it not_ Namely, the fast that pleases me. Having shown the evil they were to abstain from in order to keep an acceptable fast, namely, every species of cruelty, he here proceeds to speak of the duty that was required, namely, the exercise of every kind of mercy, as a necessary fruit of true repe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then shall thy light_ Matter or cause of rejoicing, _break forth as the morning_ Arise as certainly and speedily as in the morning the light arises out of darkness. It shall not only _appear_, but _break_, or dart itself _forth_, notwithstanding all obstructions, as the sun breaks and pierces throu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then shalt thou call_, &c. They made great complaint, Isaiah 58:3, that God took no notice of their services, which complaint he seems now to refer to, as if he had said, These conditions being observed, call upon me, and thou shalt see I will regard, Psalms 34:15. _The Lord shall answer_ He will g... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord shall guide thee_ Namely, as a shepherd leads _his sheep._ He adds _continually_, to show that his conduct and blessing should not be momentary, or of a short continuance, but all along as it was to Israel in the wilderness. _And satisfy thy soul in drought_ Thou shalt have plenty, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou turn away_ If thou take no unnecessary journeys, nor do any servile works on the sabbath day; or, metaphorically, if thou keep thy mind and affections disengaged, and free from secular cares and concerns, and restrain thyself from whatever might profane it; _from doing thy pleasure on my ho... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord_ This refers to the preceding verse, as if he had said, If thou wilt delight thyself in the sabbath, then thou shalt delight in the God of the sabbath, namely, in his goodness and faithfulness to thee, and in the assurance of his love and favour. _I will... [ Continue Reading ]