Isaiah 58 Is a Warning

Isaiah 58 is a warning from God to his people. The chapter fits with the message contained in the entire second half of Isaiah (40-66). God expresses his displeasure with his children and gives them specific instructions that he wishes to be followed in order to return to his good graces. This research will support the thesis that Isaiah 58 is a call to action that provides essential clues as to the management of our resources today.

An Introduction to the Chapter

Isaiah served as a prophet in Jerusalem at a pivotal time in the relationship of the Israelites to God. He began his public ministry late in the reign of King Uzziah, just prior to the death of the King in 740 B.C.

Isaiah saw five wars during his lifetime, each of which led to a further decline of Israel's spiritual life and sense of morality. The decline of the state of the nation of Israel was a key theme in Isaiah's work. Isaiah was martyred by Manasseh

Throughout his time, Isaiah sent a strong message to the people of Israel to turn from their wicked and decrepit ways. He pleaded with them to return to their spiritual ways and to return to God's favor. He saw their ways as the path to destruction. The good works of Kings such as Hezekiah were seen as a delay of the final destruction, but in the end, Isaiah foresaw the downfall of the nation of Israel if they did not return to the ways of the Lord. In 586 Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, taking the survivors as captive to Babylon

Isaiah 58 can be divided into four distinct sections. The first two verses serve as the introduction and set the stage for the remainder of the chapter. In the first two verses, God is speaking directly to Isaiah, giving him instructions as to how to deliver the message that he is about to receive. In the second verse, he provides Isaiah with the background as to why the message is needed.

In verses 3-6, God is speaking through Isaiah to the Israelites. His is talking about the practice of fasting. He tells the Israelites that fasting is not a spiritual act in itself and that they must return to fasting with the purpose of pleasing God. The material act does not equate the spiritual act.

Verses 7-8 instruct the Israelites to serve as examples of morality, feeding the poor both in material needs and in food for the soul. God renders this obligation onto the Israelites, and in return, he promises to provide for their material needs. In verse 9, God addresses the complaint that the Israelites feel that he has not heard their prayer. God informs them that they have prayed selfishly and that his gifts are not free. The Israelites must fulfill their obligation to him before their prayers will be answered.

Verses 10-14 inform the Israelites what they will receive in return for their good efforts. The Israelites have the chance to redeem all of their past faults and to be remembered as a great people, but only if they follow God's instructions as laid out in the earlier part of the speech. God promises to provide spiritual wealth if they obey his commandments.

Isaiah Chapter 58 is laid out in a logical progression, with an introduction, a body that consists of three main points, and conclusions that is meant to convince the Israelites to take action. The chapter stands alone as a message from God and does not depend on any prior knowledge of the audience. The chapter is organized in a logical progression that transitions easily from one point to another.

A Plea to the People

The central theme of Isaiah 58 is a plea to the people of Israel to turn from their false worship and to return to the true religion. The speaker is the almighty, delivered first person, through the prophet Isaiah. The first verse is an instruction of Isaiah of how to deliver the message. God wants the message to be delivered loud and clear, with emphasis.

"1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."

The first verse sets the tone for the delivery of the rest of the chapter. The first verse indicates the urgency of the message and the need for the people of Israel to hear and obey the message that is about to be delivered. The message is to be delivered as a strong warning to the people.

Verse 2 is still talking to the Prophet Isaiah, giving him a summary of the key points that he is about to make. The verse serves as a summary and an introduction to the rest of the text. Its position at the top of the list emphasizes the importance of the content of this verse.

" 2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God."

Here God tells Isaiah that he is going to admonish his people for hypocrisy. God cites the difference between and outward religion that is just going through the motions and an inward spiritual journey that is truly pleasing to God. Hypocrisy is not pleasing to God, which is the key point that God wishes to make to his people through the Prophet Isaiah in the message.

In the beginning of verse 2, God refers to the righteousness of the people in the past tense. One of the most notable attributes of verse 2 is the switching of verb tenses from present to past and back again. God indicates that they continue to seek him daily and that they continue to seek to know his ways, but that they were righteous in the past. Therefore, the people of Israel have fell from grace at sometime between the past and the present. Yet God still sees them as redeemable, as they continue to seek him. He is not ready to destroy them, but to give them one more chance. They continue to seek the laws of god and take delight in approaching God, but they do not do so in a way the is truly of the heart. God indicates that they did not break the laws of worship, and that they continue practice the religion outwardly. Verse 2 indicates that the children of Israel have turned from the true ways of God on the inside, not in their daily ritual. Ritual religion is still intact, but they no longer practice it with their hearts.

Israel is outwardly righteous, but God is no longer real to them. God sees the hearts of man, not the outward actions or appearance. The theme of Isaiah 58 is the difference between true worship from the heart and false ritual. God reiterates this message in Matthew 22: 37-38, when he makes the first great commandment to "love the LORD, you God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This was the first great commandment, once again, it was placed first for emphasis. God does not build to a climax, but cuts straight to the point in both Matthew and Isaiah. These examples tell us that when God is speaking, he places the most important idea first, everything else that follows is of less importance. This is not to say that it is unimportant, just that the key to the message is placed first. These two examples give us a clue as to the oratory style of the message, when the message is being delivered by God. We can expect that the most important point of the message will be placed first.

As the chosen people of God, the Israelites had a special purpose. They were supposed to be examples to gentiles and the rest of the races of how to live. They were to be model characters in the sight of God. They, more than nay other race had to be upright and steadfast in their ways. When they repeatedly dishonored God and his commandments, they showed this example to the world. This is one of the key reasons why God was so hard on the Israelites. The hypocrisy of the Israelites would not be likely to convince others that they could be attracted to the God of the Israelites. The Israelites were not furthering God's plan, which was the key inspiration for this admonishment delivered by Isaiah.

Fasting With a Purpose

The first issue that God present is the manner in which the Israelites carry out the fast. Fasting is not an outward act, but an inward act. In verse 3, we find the Israelites fasting, but carrying on business as usually, going about their work as any other day.

'3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours."

They are not keeping the day of fasting holy. Verses 4 and 5 give us further information as to how the Israelites are observing fasting. We find that they are fasting to appear pious to other men. They are fasting so that everyone will know that they fasted, not necessarily out of commitment to God. The Israelites are keeping the ceremony of fasting, but they are doing it for selfish reasons. They are "showing off" their religiousness without feeling anything in their hearts. This is what God sees in their actions.

'4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD

Verse four is accusatory, telling the Israelites what they have done. In verse five, God uses an accusatory tone in his questions to the Israelites. The phrasing has a sarcastic feel, particularly in relation to the rest of the verses surrounding it. Rather than attending to their own agendas, the people of Israel should be tending to the work that God has chosen for them, not pursuing their own interests on holy days

In verse 6 God reminds the people of the purpose of fasting and its ability to free the "band of wickedness." Fasting is a spiritual, rather than a physical action. It is an expression that frees the person of their burdens and that breaks the bonds of slavery and oppression. This reference may be referring to the bonds and oppression of sin, rather than the actual breaking of bonds. The fast is symbolic of renewing one's connection with God, regardless of the weight that the world has placed on man's shoulders. Fasting is a physical means to remind man of his inner connection with God.

" 6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke

To place Isaiah 58 in a modern context, let us consider the liturgy that is practices today. God criticizes the Israelites for practicing the fast, while continuing to make their laborers work on that day. This is likened to a form or spiritual oppression and represents the highest form of hypocrisy

The World Council of Churches allows each member church to decide on which doctrine they will practice and how it will be applied

. This form of government allows individualism in the various churches. Liturgy may be different, but its meaning remains the same. Much emphasis is placed on liturgical practice, almost to the detriment of spiritual purpose. This is exactly what God's message to the Israelites was trying to convey in these verses. It is not so much "how" one chooses to worship, but the heart that they put into it. God places an emphasis of purpose rather than liturgy in these verses.

Good Acts

In verse 7, the Israelites are reminded that all is not lost and that they have some good left in them. They continue to help the poor and hungry. They cloth the naked, even if it means giving the shirt off their own back.

'7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh

God then reminds his people that they will gain happiness and spiritual fulfillment through these acts. They are promised health and happiness if they continue to help the needy.

" 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward."

God promises his people spiritual rewards, not material ones for their good deeds., This contrasts with the rewards that the Israelites are seeking for themselves in the first five verses. In the first section, the Israelites are seeking financial and material rewards, but God reminds them that the rewards that he offers for their good deeds are spiritual, rather than material in nature. If they follow God's ways, their good deeds will shine into the world and they will have God's favor and reward.

Thomas Schaffer states that the measure of any economy is how the poor and vulnerable are doing

. If the wealthy get wealthier, but continue to go to church faithfully every Sunday, but the poor get hungrier at the same time, then the wealth person does not please God by going to church. Their faith is without substance, that is what Isaiah was speaking about in this verse. We have an obligation to take care of each other. Going about our own business without concern for others will not the happiness that God promises in this chapter.

Isaiah reminds the Israelites that they should not tend to the needs of others before they attend to the needs of their own family. They should not forget the needs of their own family members

. Sinclair extends this argument to the taboo against giving legal advice to someone before they appear in court. If this advice would keep a family member from descending into poverty, then this need is placed above the taboo of giving legal advice. Talmudic law places a high priority on keeping one's own family from descending into poverty

Humanitarian activities can be viewed as achieving unity with God

. In Isaiah 58:6, to be one of God's children means to be compelled to take action. One cannot sit around and tend to their own pleasures. Idealism has not place in the lives of the Israelites when it comes to helping the need. They have to put aside their business and tend to helping those in need. Isaiah is not a passive chapter, it calls the Israelites to get up and go forth. They not to sit by idly and discuss idealism. God clearly indicates that they are to take action to help those in need.

The purpose of fasting closely ties to God's call to action for the impoverished of the world. When one fasts, they feel the pangs of hunger, the dizziness and the unending weariness that is the world of those without food

. Fasting is meant to make us thankful for what God's blessing upon us and to compel us to help those who must experience these pains every day. Currently, one third, of our world is without food, while the smallest portion of the world population consumes the most (Buchanan, p. 16), Buchanan makes a key point of the lopsided distribution of food resources in the world.

Unanswered Prayer

In verse 9, we find that the Israelites feel that their prayers not being answered. God recognizes that they feel that their prayers are not being answered. God explains that if they would cry out in earnest, then he would answer them. He has not abandoned them, it is the manner if which he is being addressed.

" 9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here

I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity."

God tells the Israelites that they are speaking of their earthly woes, "the yoke" and pointing the finger of blame. He tells them that they are speaking vainly. Prayer should be approached with humility and humbleness. God assures the Israelites in this verse that he has not abandoned them completely, but they need to change their tone if they wish to be heard. Once, again, God reminds them that all is not lost and that they still have a chance for redemption. However, they will have to change and cannot continue on the same path that they are on. This verse serves as a warning to the Israelites that they must change their ways if they wish to return to the graces of God.

In verse 10, the Israelites are reminded of what the world should see when they look at them. If the Israelites will feed the hungry, they will be an inspiration to the world and will be able to resolve many of the problems of the world.

'10 and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day."

In verse 7, God appeared to refer to physical hunger and poverty. In verse 10, God is talking about the spiritually hungry and the troubled soul. He asks them to "draw out they soul," rather than providing food to them. It refers to the light of the soul shining through the darkness of the world.

The Results

In verses 11-14, God tells the Israelites what will happen to them for following or failing to follow his instructions, as presented in the past and reinforced through Isaiah in this speech. God promises guidance, unending spiritual fulfillment and abundance in every aspect of the world.

'11 and the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."

In verse 12 God reminds the Israelites of their importance in the history and future of their race. It is implied that the Israelites have fallen from grace, but that this generation has the chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of the LORD.

'12 and they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, the repairer of the breach,

The restorer of paths to dwell in."

This group of Israelites have the chance to go down in history as the ones who saved it all. If they can restore themselves to the good graces of God, then they will be seen as the ones who repaired the damage that was done and saved their people from destruction. God reminds them that how they will be viewed in history is at stake. If they make the correct decisions, they will be seen as heroes by future generations.

However, in verse 13, God reminds them of what will happen if they continue to do as they wish and ignore this warning.

'13If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day;

and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words,"

God reiterates the importance of the Sabbath as a holy day and as a day when business should not be conducted and when the people should take time out to honor him. God repeated this point, which highlights the placement of the Sabbath fast as a first priority. God's repetition of the necessity of keeping the Sabbath emphasizes its importance in God's mind.

The 14th verse ends this chapter with a clear reward if the people of Israel choose to follow the correct path.

"14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."

If the Israelites can follow the key instructions that God has given them through Isaiah, then they are promised to be a great people and to have abundance. The final phrase, " for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it" makes it official. God promises that the Israelites will have that which he has promised, but they have to do their part in order to receive the reward.

Isaiah delivered the answer to the state of the Israelites. They had a chance to regenerate the world through their moral excellence and by conducting themselves according to God's plan

. The world would also receive a reward by following their example.

God's promise to the people of Israel clearly promises abundance for following his commandments and instructions. God tells them what he will do if they will only return to him with their soul. He does not explicitly state the punishment for failing to return to him, but leaves it implied that just as they will receive riches and happiness for following his instructions, he is clearly upset with them for failure to follow him in the past. There is an implied sense of doom if the Israelites do not follow the Sabbath and turn their hears to God's instructions. We never know what will happen to them, but it is implied through the law of opposites that the people will suffer some consequence for their failure in faithfulness.

God keeps a positive tone to the message, highlighting the rewards that the Israelites will receive for their good works. He leaves the punishment to be understood, but not implicitly stated. There is also the unwritten implication that if the Israelites do not comply with God's wishes, they will not receive the reward. It is not stated exactly what will happen to them, but it is implied that it will not be pleasant. God says more with what is not said in Isaiah 58 than with what is actually stated in the passage.

Conclusion

Isaiah 58 reminds us that God is willing to shower us with blessings, but we also have a responsibility to him as well. God will be generous with his gift, but in order to appreciate who he gives, we have to give something back as well. If God simply showered us with abundance, we would have no reason to turn from sin and follow his instructions. We, as humans must work for our rewards in order to appreciate them.

In this chapter, God speaks to the Israelites in the tone of a father who is correcting his children. This chapter highlights the aspect of God the father and the parental role between ourselves and God. Just as a father will not allow his children to be spoiled by lavishly raining gifts upon them, neither will God allow us to become spoiled. Just as any good parent, God is generous, but in return he expects respect and love.

God does not ask much of his children to receive their reward. In Isaiah 58, he only asks for three things in return for all of his rewards. He asks that his children practice their fasts on the Sabbath with all of their hearts and all of the their soul, rather than simply going through the rituals. He asks that they give to the poor and the hungry and that they do so to with all of their heart. He asks that they keep the Sabbath holy and that they provide spiritual nourishment to those who need it. God asks that his child give their hearts, souls and minds to him. Ritual without feeling is not pleasing to God. He asks more of his children than simply going through the motions.