_THE PROPHET, BEING SENT TO REPROVE HYPOCRISY, EXPRESSETH A COUNTERFEIT FAST, AND A TRUE: HE DECLARETH WHAT PROMISES ARE DUE UNTO GODLINESS, AND TO THE KEEPING OF THE SABBATH._ _Before Christ 699._ THE seventh section, contained in this and Isaiah 58:1 of the following chapter, is divided into two... [ Continue Reading ]
YET THEY—THAT DID RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND FORSOOK NOT— _But they—as a nation that doeth righteousness, and forsaketh not._... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, &C.— "You gratify your passions, especially your covetousness: you oppress the poor, and therefore are defective in the duties of justice and charity." By _labours_ are meant those riches which are gotten by the toil and fatigue of ourselves or others; and by _exacting our labours,_ in the s... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL NOT FAST, &C.— _Ye fast not this day, so as to make your voice_ [or _prayers_] _to be heard above._ Isaiah 58:5. _Is it such a fast as I should choose, a day,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THY LIGHT, &C.— _Then_ [that is to say, if thou shalt join these, acts of love and beneficence to thy fasting and religious worship] _thy light,_ &c. that is to say, "Thou shalt in a short time obtain the happy state which thou hast desired, and shalt also be delivered from the evils whic... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PUTTING FORTH OF THE FINGER— That is, says Grotius, "If thou shalt cease with the finger of contempt to mark out good men, and to mock and despise their simplicity and sincerity." In this and the subsequent verses, the prophet elegantly repeats and enlarges upon what he had delivered in the form... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY—SHALL BUILD, &C.— The meaning is, (for the whole of this and the preceding verse is metaphorical,) that from the city of God, flourishing in the manner above described, should go forth those who should renew and restore the churches long laid waste, as immersed in thick darkness and superst... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU TURN AWAY THY FOOT FROM THE SABBATH, &C.— Vitringa renders this, _If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, so as not to study thy pleasure on my holy day, but callest,_ &c. The meaning is, "If on the sabbath thou shalt abstain from running up and down, from the ordinary occupation and bu... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALT THOU DELIGHT THYSELF IN THE LORD— From the benefits consequent upon the duty, which are spiritual, we may collect the duty itself. It was enjoined in the 13th verse, _to call the sabbath a delight;_ in return for which _delight in the Lord,_ sincere and spiritual delight is promised. The... [ Continue Reading ]