Isaiah 58

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:13

If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath - The meaning of this seems to be, that they should be careful not to take their pleasure on the Sabbath day, by paying visits, and taking country jaunts; not going, as Kimchi interprets it, more than a Sabbath day's journey, which was only two thousand cubits beyond the city's suburbs. How vilely is this rule transgressed by the inhabitants of this land! They seem to think that the Sabbath was made only for their recreation! From doing thy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:14

Then shalt thou delight thyself - If all fasts and religious observances be carried on in the spirit and manner recommended above, God's blessing will attend every ordinance. But in public fasts, prescribed not in the Book of God, but by the rulers of nations in general (very unfit persons) care should be taken that the cause is good, and that God's blessing may be safely implored in it. France has lately fasted and prayed that they might be able to subjugate Spain, restore and establish... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1

Cry aloud ; literally, cry from the throat; "a plein gosier," as Calvin says. The command is addressed to the prophet by Jehovah, who will have him warn the people in such sort as to compel their attention. Lift up thy voice like a trumpet (comp. Hosea 8:1 ; Joel 2:1 ). The trumpet gives a note of alarm. Show my people their transgression ; i.e. "show them how they are especially offending me at this time" (see Micah 3:8 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

SECTION VI . PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS , FOLLOWED BY A CONFESSION AND A PROMISE ( Isaiah 58:1-14 ; Isaiah 59:1-21 .). FORMALISM REBUKED AND INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN WITH RESPECT TO FASTING . As in the last section, so here, the prophet's eye seems to rest upon his contemporaries rather than upon the exiles; and to note the vices of the time, which have a general resemblance to those rebuked in Isaiah 1:1-31 . The whole Law seems to be in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

True and spurious fasting. Loudly, with all the strength of throat and as with trumpet-voice, the prophet is to cry and denounce the rebellion and the sins of the people. I. THEIR FORMALITY AND HYPOCRISY , They consult Jehovah daily; they apply to the prophet or the oracle; they offer prayer. They profess to desire to know God's ways, his commands, and his dealings with his people. Just as if they were a holy people, and were not really far in heart from God, they demand of him... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

Religion: its semblance, its substance, its reward. I. THE SEMBLANCE OF RELIGION . It argues nothing whatever against religion that there is a great deal of hypocrisy in the world; indeed, the absence would be a more formidable argument than the presence of it. For men imitate that which is most worthy of esteem, and if nobody-pretended to be religious it would be fair to conclude that religion itself was of very small account. Imitation implies the respect, and indicates the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 58:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

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