以賽亞書 58:2-4 RCUVTS

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

They seek me daily , and delight to know my ways (compare the picture drawn in Isaiah 1:11-15 ). We have there exactly the same representation of a people honouring God with their lips, but whose hearts are far from him—zealous in all the outward forms of religion, even making "many prayers" ( Isaiah 1:15 ), but yet altogether an offence to God. They are not conscious hypocrites—quite the reverse; they are bent on "doing righteousness," on not forsaking God's ordinance, on continually... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

Delight in God. "Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways." Religion is little if it is not delight in God. This is its true touchstone. It is what we love that constitutes an abiding test. If we do not feel at heart the blessedness of religion, we may discover that we are only seeking it for selfish safety, or for the world's approval of a respectable name. I. THE DAILY ORISON . We seek that which we desire; and how ingenious is love in finding words of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

Practical godliness. "As a nation that did righteousness." No word occurs oftener in the Bible than this word "righteousness." It is the granite foundations of God's government. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" And it is this which is the salt of a nation. "Righteousness exalteth a nation." There may be much sentimentality in human beings without the cardinal virtues; but, wanting these, all else is meretricious and hollow. I. THE GLORY OF ISRAEL . They were not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

The offence of merely external religiousness. "And [yet] me they consult daily, and to know my ways they desire: as a nation that hath done righteousness, and hath not forsaken the Law of God, they ask of me judgments of righteousness'' (Cheyne). "The words point, to the incongruous union, possible in the reign of Manasseh, but hardly possible after the exile, of the formal recognition of Jehovah with an apostate life. Every phrase rings in the tone of an incisive irony, describing each... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:3

Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? The fasting' spoken of is probably that of the great Day of Atonement. the only fasting commanded in the Law (Le 16:29, 31). Other fasts were from time to time appointed by civil or ecclesiastical authority ( 1 Kings 21:9 , 1 Kings 12:2 , 1 Kings 20:3 ; Joel 1:14 ; Joel 2:12 , Joel 2:15 ); but they were rare, and do not seem to be here intended. Still, the lesson is general, and would apply to all occasions of fasting. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:3-4

Selfishness spoiling religious habits. "Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure. " That is, you make your religion a mode of pleasing yourselves. You really enjoy your fastings. Two points may be illustrated and enforced. As introductory, it may be shown that externalism is the special temptation of a people who have been cured of idolatry. Pharisaic formalism is the evil that threatens a nation that rebounds from the notion of many gods to the idea of one, spiritual God. "Self"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:3-7

Rightful and wrongful fasting need to be carefully distinguished. Among wrong kinds of fasting may be noticed the following. I. PURELY FORMAL FASTING IS WRONG . The fasting that consists in mere abstinence from food, without any accompaniment of prayer or meditation or almsgiving, has in it nothing religious, and is an indifferent act, unless it be viewed as in some sort a pious exercise. Viewed in this light, it is a delusion and a snare—an encouragement to men to make all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:4

Ye fast for strife and debate . Delitzsch explains, "When fasting, they are doubly irritable and ill tempered; and this leads to quarrelling and strife, even to striking with angry fists." This is quite a possible explanation. Or there may have been two parties, one for, the other against, fasting; and those who practised fasting may have done it, as some preached Christ, "of envy and strife" ( Philippians 1:15 )—to provoke the opposite side. Ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 58:2

Yet they seek me daily - The whole description here is appropriate to the character of formalists and hypocrites; and the idea is, that public worship by sacrifice was celebrated daily in the temple, and was not intermitted. It is not improbable also that they kept up the regular daily service in their dwellings.And delight to know my ways - Probably this means, they profess to delight to know the ways of God; that is, his commands, truths, and requirements. A hypocrite has no real delight in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 58:3

Wherefore have we fasted - They had fasted much, evidently with the expectation of delivering themselves from impending calamities, and securing the divine favor. They are here introduced as saying that they had been disappointed. God had not interposed as they had expected. Chagrined and mortified, they now complain that he had not noticed their very conscientious and faithful regard for the duties of religion.And thou seest not? - All had been in vain. Calamities still impended; judgments... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:3-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:3-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 58:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 58:3

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