INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 58 From the wicked and antichristian party the prophet is bid to turn to the professors of the true religion, and openly, boldly, and sharply, reprove them for their sins, particularly their hypocrisy and formality in worship, Isaiah 58:1, who yet were angry, and complained t... [ Continue Reading ]
CRY ALOUD, SPARE NOT, LIFT UP THY VOICE LIKE A TRUMPET,.... These words are directed to the prophet; and so the Targum expresses it, "O prophet, cry with thy throat;'' and so it is in the original, "cry with the throat" d, which is an instrument of speech; and it denotes a loud, strong, vehement c... [ Continue Reading ]
YET THEY SEEK ME DAILY,.... Which may be considered as an acknowledgment of their external piety; or as a caution to the prophet not to be imposed upon by outward appearances; or as a reason why they should be rebuked sharply: they sought the Lord, either by prayer, or in the ministry of the word; t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE HAVE WE FASTED, SAY THEY, AND THOU SEEST NOT?.... Our fasting; takest no notice of it; expresses no approbation of it, and pleasure in it: this is put for all religious services, being what was frequently performed under the Old Testament, not only at certain times appointed by the Lord, b... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, YE FAST FOR STRIFE AND DEBATE,.... Brawling with their servants for not doing work enough; or quarrelling with their debtors for not paying their debts; or the main of their religion lay in contentions and strifes about words, vain hot disputations about rites and ceremonies in worship, as i... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT SUCH A FAST THAT I HAVE CHOSEN?.... That is, can this be thought to be a fast approved of by me, and acceptable to me, before described, and is as follows: A DAY FOR A MAN TO AFFLICT HIS SOUL? only to appoint a certain day, and keep that, by abstaining from bodily food, and so for a short tim... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THIS THE FAST THAT I HAVE CHOSEN?.... Which God has appointed, he approves of, and is well pleasing in his sight; these are works and services more agreeable to him, which follow, without which the rest will be rejected: TO LOOSE THE BANDS OF WICKEDNESS; which some understand of combinations... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT NOT TO DEAL THY BREAD TO THE HUNGRY?.... Or "to break" f it, divide it, and communicate it to them; that which is "bread", food fit to eat, wholesome and nourishing; which is thine, and not another's; which thou hast saved by fasting, and therefore should not be laid up, but given away; and th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THY LIGHT BREAK FORTH AS THE MORNING,.... Through thick clouds, or the darkness of the night, suddenly, swiftly, irresistibly, and increase more and more, till it is perfect day. This is to be understood best of temporal and spiritual prosperity, especially the latter, which will attend t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THOU CALL, AND THE LORD SHALL ANSWER,.... A spirit of grace and supplication will be poured out upon the people of God; they will then pray without a form, and call upon the Lord in sincerity and truth, with faith and fervency; and the Lord will hear and answer them, and plentifully besto... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF THOU DRAW OUT THY SOUL TO THE HUNGRY,.... Not only deal out thy bread, but thy soul also, to him; that is, give him food cheerfully, with a good will, expressing a hearty love and affection for him; do it heartily, as to the Lord; let thy soul go along with it; and this is true of affectionat... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SHALL GUIDE THEE CONTINUALLY,.... With his counsel, by his word, and by his Spirit, and that night and day; as he guided the Israelites through the wilderness with the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night: or, "cause thee to rest" k; from adversity, from persecution;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT SHALL BE OF THEE SHALL BUILD THE OLD WASTE PLACES,.... As the cities in Israel and Judea, which had been long laid waste by the Assyrians and Chaldeans, were rebuilt by those of the Jewish nation, who returned from the captivity of Babylon, to which there is at least an allusion; and a... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU TURN AWAY THY FOOT FROM THE SABBATH,.... From walking and working on that day; or withdrawest thy mind and affections from all worldly things; the affections being that to the mind as the feet are to the body, which carry it here and there. The time of worship, under the Gospel dispensation,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALT THOU DELIGHT THYSELF IN THE LORD,.... In his perfections; in his omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, eternity, immutability, holiness, justice, truth, and faithfulness; in his wisdom, love, grace, and mercy, especially as displayed in Christ, and salvation by him; in the relations he... [ Continue Reading ]