Isaiah 58 With Commentary

 

Isaiah 58 With Commentary

 

“Cry aloud, do not hold back!

Raise your voice like a shofar.

Tell My People their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

GOD commands Isaiah to call Israel to repent, He has done this throughout the history of the world. Before the flood, before the Covenant with Abraham, before Israel was a nation, before Israel went into 70 years of captivity, before JESUS started His earthly Ministry, before every major event in modern history. But like the people of pre-flood history, like the Children of Israel throughout history and like the people of all eras we (for the most part) do not listen to GOD’s call to repentance, Joel 2:12-17.

 

“Yet they seek Me day to day and delight to know My ways, as if they were a nation that did right, and had not forsaken their God’s decree. They ask Me for Righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of GOD.”

Humanity has always sought their own will while trying to appease GOD and even false gods with outward obedience, (Malachi 3:1, 8-10). JESUS called those of His day “whitewashed tombs” Matthew 23 [:27-28]; Deuteronomy 25:1-3; Acts 23:1-3.

 

“Why have we fasted, yet You do not see?

Why have we afflicted our souls, yet You take no notice?”

GOD has heard this type of questioning since He gave us life (even I have asked this) Zechariah 7:1-7; Matthew 6:16-18.

 

“Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure and exploit all your laborers.

Behold, you fast for strife and contention and to strike with a wicked fist.

You should not fast as you do today to make your voice heard on high.

Is this the fast I have chosen?

A day for one to afflict his soul?

Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and spreading out sackcloth and ashes?

Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to ADONAI?”

GOD answers our question and shows our heart! 1 Kings 21:1-16 [9-10]; Luke 18:9-14; Acts 6:8-7:60 [6:8-15, 7:54-60] When David repented and fasted of his sin with Uriah and Bathsheba praying and fasting with great sorrow was correct; during the reign of Hezakiah when Jerusalem Israel and Jerusalem was under immediate threat of being conquered, the whole populace praying and fasting was correct. But most of the time we pray and fast today it is not for GOD’s Will but for our own desire, even if it is ministry related, James 1:26-27.

 

“Is this not the fast I choose:

To release the bonds of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and tear off every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your house?

When you see the naked, to cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh and blood?”

This is what JESUS taught: Matthew 11:28-30, 25:31-46; Luke 4:18-19, 18:18-23.

 

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will spring up speedily.

Your righteousness will go before you, the Glory of ADONAI as your rear guard.

Then you will call, and ADONAI will answer.

You will cry and He will say, ‘Hear I AM.’

If you get rid of the yoke among you – finger-pointing and badmouthing – if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will be like midday.”

Repent! Isaiah 55:6-7; 60; Matthew 6:22-23, 33-34; Luke 3:1-14, 18:18-23; John 5:1-15 [14], 8:1-12 [11]; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21.

 

“Then ADONAI will guide you continually, satisfy your soul in drought and strengthen your bones.

You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail.”

Who would not want their life to be drought proof? Psalm 1; Proverbs 3:1-6; Matthew 6:33-34; John 7:37-39; 1 John 5:7-8.

 

“Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins, will raise up the age old foundation, will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Street for Dwelling.”

While this was spoken to the generation of Hebrews who would rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple after their exile, it also speaks to the Modern Church, about the society where we live and the many needed repairs of integrity, morality and righteousness that must be built on the Foundation of the Chief Corner Stone, JESUS CHRIST! Psalm 118:22-24; Isaiah 28:16-17; Luke 20:17-18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 2:19-22; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:1-12.

 

“If you turn back your foot from Shabbat, from doing your pleasure on My Holy Day, and call Shabbat a delight, The Holy Day of ADONAI honorable, if you honor it, not going your own ways, not seeking your own pleasure, nor speaking your usual speech, then you will delight yourself in ADONAI, and I will let you ride over the heights of the earth, I will feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.”

The nation of Israel was sent into 70 years of exile for not honoring (they ignored it) the Sabbath for 490 years, one year for every Sabbath. In JESUS’ day Israel had made it impossible to keep the Sabbath with their traditions, Exodus 20:8, 31:13; Jeremiah 25:1-14 [11-12]; Daniel 9:24; Mark 2:23-3:6 [2:27-28]. JESUS fulfilled The Law, that included The Sabbath, but we still have to keep The Ten Commandments. There is no place in The Scriptures that tells us that we do not have to keep any of The Commandments! In fact throughout the New Testament we are told to obey all of the 50 commandments that JESUS gave us [for more on that you can see my paper and video on The Will Of GOD Is Our Purpose]. When we are seeking GOD’s Kingdom and His Righteousness then we will have Peace and Joy no matter our situation, Matthew 5-7.

 

“For the mouth of ADONAI has spoken.”

This is the greatest guarantee that GOD’s Will, will be done! Hebrews 6:13-18.

 

https://youtu.be/4_CL746E9jc