Here we see another quintessential Isaiah statement about loyalty to Jehovah. It is also an excellent summation, as it is surely part of the source, of Jesus' criticism of the Pharisees. They had all the particulars figured out, but had no clue what it was they were about.
Isaiah quotes the command from God to prophesy of Judah's sins. He then launches into a very sarcastic description of the purely externalized holiness of his nation. Sure, they seek God daily, and surely live according to the Law. They come into the Temple daily, engage in fasting and then wonder why God doesn't keep His end of the Covenant.
God responds with the ancient demand: "Show Me!" Don't yammer about it all day; prove your devotion by how it changes your actions. On the fast days, they still chased worldly comforts. That's affliction? People who afflict themselves don't immediately turn around and afflict others. Fasting from food, along with the ritual sackcloth and ashes, is a symbol of recognizing you have sinned, and fully deserve God's wrath. That leaves no room for expressing personal wrath for others. Don't bother going through the motions if you aren't penitent in your hearts.
Repentance makes you conscious of your burdens, realizing those exist because of the burdens we have placed on others. Fasting penitence means rushing out to forgive others. As Jesus put it, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive others." Penitent souls are eager to loose the bonds of others, and to relieve all human misery. True fasting of the soul empowers acts of redemption for others: feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, housing the outcast, etc. You put on sackcloth and ashes precisely so you may give your garments to the naked. That's when God hears your cry.
In the previous chapter we saw where Manesseh's reign was characterized by criminalizing righteousness. Isaiah raises it here again, speaking of the yoke of false accusations. He talks about the light of God's compassion on the afflicted. The promises of the Covenant were fairly broad, with a recognized meaning in worldly terms. However, they were but mere symbols of the spiritual blessings possible. Isaiah uses soaring language to describe that spiritual element: your worst experiences will be glorious. The Lord will guide, fill, strengthen, water your soul. You will turn chaotic rubble into gleaming palaces.
Don't use the weekly holy day as an excuse to chase frivolous leisure activities. If you cannot grasp the concept of God's rest, how can you hope to please Him? The problem is with what people find entertaining. It takes an utterly empty soul to demand constant external stimuli. People who are filled with the Spirit of God have no trouble taking a break from worldly concerns so they can give their focus to God. Modern technology can as easily enslave as it can lighten burdens. The legacy of being Children of Israel was fast disappearing down the drain, replaced with something artificial and worthless.
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By Ed Hurst
14 August 2009
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: People of honor need no copyright laws; they are only too happy to give credit where credit is due. Others will ignore copyright laws whenever they please. If you are of the latter, please note what Moses said about dishonorable behavior -- "be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)