Isaiah 58
Isaiah 58 addresses true and false worship, emphasizing the kind of fasting that pleases God. The chapter criticizes outward religiosity without genuine compassion and justice. It outlines the difference between hypocritical fasting, which focuses on rituals, and the fasting God desires, which includes acts of righteousness and mercy. The chapter closes with promises of restoration for those who honor the Sabbath and live justly.
Isaiah 58:1 (NKJV)
1 “Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.”
The chapter opens with God commanding Isaiah to loudly and boldly declare the sins of the people of Israel. God wants His people to be aware of their transgressions, showing that their worship and rituals are not enough if their lives are filled with sin. God desires true repentance and a heart aligned with His will.
Isaiah 58:2 (NKJV)
2 Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.
Israel appeared to be religious and sought God regularly, acting as though they were righteous. However, their outward displays of piety did not align with their actions. They took delight in rituals but failed to live righteously or justly. God criticizes their hypocrisy, noting that their worship was superficial.
Isaiah 58:3-4 (NKJV)
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.
4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.”
The people of Israel questioned why God did not respond to their fasting. God reveals that their fasting was insincere, as they continued to exploit others and engage in conflicts during their fasts. Their fasting was not accompanied by righteous living, making it unacceptable to God. True fasting should reflect a heart of justice and mercy, not hypocrisy.
Isaiah 58:5 (NKJV)
5 Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord?
God asks whether their outward actions—bowing, sackcloth, and ashes—constitute the kind of fasting He desires. These external signs of repentance do not please God if they are not accompanied by true humility and change in behavior. God is not interested in rituals alone but in a heart that seeks righteousness and justice.
Isaiah 58:6-7 (NKJV)
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?”
God describes the true fast He desires—acts of justice, mercy, and kindness. True fasting involves breaking the chains of injustice, freeing the oppressed, sharing food with the hungry, and clothing the naked. God calls for a lifestyle of compassion and action, not empty rituals. This kind of fasting reflects God’s character and brings real change to the lives of others.
Isaiah 58:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness.”
When people live out the kind of fasting God desires—by pursuing justice, mercy, and love—God promises that their light will shine and they will experience healing. Their righteousness will be evident, and God’s protection will surround them. When they call on God, He will answer. But this requires removing all forms of oppression, judgment, and wickedness from their lives.
Isaiah 58:10-12 (NKJV)
10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
12 Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.”
God promises that those who care for the needy and afflicted will be blessed. Their lives will shine even in dark times, and they will be guided, strengthened, and refreshed by God. They will be like a well-watered garden, thriving and fruitful. Additionally, they will be instrumental in restoring broken places and rebuilding communities, becoming a source of healing and restoration for others.
Isaiah 58:13-14 (NKJV)
13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the Lord honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
The chapter concludes with a call to honor the Sabbath, not by pursuing personal pleasure but by delighting in God and honoring His day. God promises blessings to those who truly observe the Sabbath, including spiritual joy and provision. They will inherit the blessings promised to Jacob and be lifted up by God. The Sabbath is not just a ritual but a time to connect with God and honor Him fully.