ISAIAH 58

In today’s study verses 1-12 is titled A description of true religion, and verses 13-14 is titled The observance of the Sabbath. Isaiah 58 and verse 1 reads.

Isa.58:1] Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Saying here to shout it out loud, shout the alarm my watchmen. Wake up his children to the truth of their sins, show them their transgressions. The house of Jacob is for all twelve tribes. We read this in Isa.40, verse 6 reads.

Isa.40:6] The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
[7] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
[8] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Also, in Micah 3 and verse 8 reads.

Mic.3:8] But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

Don’t overlook the watchmen receives his power from the Holy Spirit. Back to Isa.58 and verse 2 reads.

Isa.58:2] 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.

The ordinances here are the blood ordinances from the law. the only part of the law that Jesus took away, or better said done away with. These would be the sacrifices and circumcision. Jesus was the Lamb of God and there are no more sacrifices for he became our sacrifice once and for all time. The other, circumcision, is also done away with. Circumcision is of the heart, and now is for both male and female. We see that Jesus did not really do away with these parts of the law, but rather fulfilled them and became them. Notice it says “They take delight in approaching to God”, because of repentance we are drawn close to the Father and the Son, and they dwell within us.

Isa.58:3] 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.

To fast is to draw yourself closer to God and his Word. We can see here that even when a nation comes closer to God, many among them will not. But, for the watchmen, we see this, and warn them. Because it is written, their blood will be on our hands. Let’s go to Ezekiel 3 and verse 17 reads.

Eze.3:17] Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
[18] When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

All watchmen need to read all of Eze.3 and 33. But verse 3 of Isaiah was speaking to those who do not have the knowledge of God, but think they are justified. Jesus taught us a parable in Luke 18 and verse 10 reads.

Luke 18:10] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
[11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
[12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
[13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
[14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Back to Isa.58 and verse 4 reads.

Isa.58:4] 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.

Those who enjoy conflict of debate rather than understanding of God’s Word are considered wicked. To be heard on high is prideful. They are playing church. Remember our fasts are to bring us closer to God, not to push others away from him.

Isa.58:5] 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?

Will you call it a fast when the antichrist is here? The acceptable day of the LORD is when the true Christ returns. Many will be deceived, but God’s Elect will be watchmen and warn those who are deceived. This is our job today, let’s go to 2 Tim.2 and verse 14 reads.

2Tim.2:14] Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
[16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

No more strife or debate that leads to foolish doctrine, God’s Word and the understanding thereof is all we need. Anything else is considered wicked. Back to Isa.58 and verse 6 reads.

Isa.58:6] Is 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?

Jesus would quote Isaiah 61 in Luke 4 and verse 17 reads.

Luke 4:17] And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
[18] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
[19] To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Jesus, always fulfilling prophecy teaches us this, that he is the Living Word. He is our rest, he is our path to freedom, he will set you free. Back to Isa.58 and verse 7 reads.

Isa.58:7] Is 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?

Jesus is our daily bread, we fast or rest in him every day, speaking of the Word of God. For the sake that we live in these end times, let’s go to Amos 8 and verse 11 reads.

Amos 8:11] Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

So, we as God’s Elect, his watchmen, we give to the poor the Word of God. Don’t misunderstand me, of course we will feed the poor and take care of the widow and the fatherless. But we are speaking here of the watchmen and their duties in these end times. I want to go to Matthew 25, Jesus teaches us this in a parable, Mat.25 and verse 31 reads.

Mat.25:31] When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Pay attention, he brings us to the seventh trump here.

Mat.25:32] And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
[33] And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

The sheep are the children of God, and the goats are of that wicked one.

Mat.25:34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Prepared from the first earth age.

Mat.25:35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
[36] Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
[37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
[38] When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
[39] Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

The righteous say this, not understanding, but Jesus explains compassionately to them.

Mat.25:40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
[41] Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Now Jesus speaks to the wicked.

Mat.25:42] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
[43] I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

You had no compassion for these your brethren. Compassion is a trademark of God’s elect.

Mat.25:44] Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
[45] Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
[46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Compassion is for the righteous, but the wicked cannot understand. Back to Isa.58 and verse 8 reads.

Isa.58:8] 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 rereward.

The light within us is Jesus Christ. The glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward simply means the LORD has backs, our six if you will. Exodus 14:19.

Isa.58:9] 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;

Call upon the LORD and he will hear you and answer you. You will know that you are blessed. Notice that he gives you a warning here, don’t be harsh with others when teaching God’s word, but rather be uplifting to others. Our jobs are to bring others to God, not to push them away. Let’s go to Psalms 12 and verse 1 reads.

Psa. 12:1] Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
[2] They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
[3] The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

But here in Isaiah we are learning that the glory of God is with us that DO his work. Back to Isa.58 and verse 10 reads.

Isa.58:10] 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 noonday:

Keep in mind that our light is Jesus within us, our Comforter. Also remember that the darkness comprehended it not, this is our comfort, that if Jesus is within us so is the Father.

Isa.58:11] 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.

We just read in Amos 8:11 that the famine in the end times is not for bread or water but for hearing the word of the LORD. Here we read that our LORD will never leave us or forsake us. Think of the valley of dry bones, Eze.37. or better yet, find my study of The Valley of Dry Bones in Topical Teachings.

Isa.58:12] 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.

First this word “Foundations” is feminine, we being the bride of Christ should be aware of this. Second, we are Called “The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” This brings to mind Rev.3 and verse 12 reads.

Rev.3:12] Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Could this be that new name? Either way, verse 12 gave us an important title or rank. We will be called The repairer of the breach, think of a levy that breaks. And a restorer of the paths to dwell in, that path is Jesus Christ. As God’s Elect, we have our works cut out. But, now let’s go to Amos 9 and verse 11 reads.

Amos 9:11] In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
[12] That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

We learn here that it is the LORD that does this, not us. It is his power not ours. Called by his name are Christians. Now, we go into the Observance of the Sabbath. Isa.58 and verse 13 reads.

Isa.58:13] If 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, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

We need to understand that Rest is Sabbath. We rest in Christ because Christ became our Passover, the highest Sabbath. 1Cor.5:7. Let’s go to Hebrews 4 and verse 8 reads.

Heb.4:8] For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

We see here that Christ is speaking of the second advent, his return at the seventh trump.

Heb.4:9] There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
[10] For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Seven days and thou shall rest, Sabbath.

Heb.4:11] Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

It is considered unbelief if those who do not rest in Christ. back to Isa.58 and verse 14 reads.

Isa.58:14] 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.

It is written, and all that is written will come to pass exactly as written. Our blessing is that God himself is our inheritance. Let’s go to Ezekiel 44 and see what exactly is the inheritance of God’s Elect. Eze.44 and verse 23 reads.

Eze.44:23] And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

We learn in Revelation 20 that the Elect are priests with Christ for a thousand years. Let’s go to Rev.20 and verse 6 reads.

Rev.6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

What do priests do, they teach. Back to Eze.44 and verse 24 reads.

Eze.44:24] And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
[25] And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.

Says here we can come to our family and loved ones in the millennium and teach them the truth of God’s word.

Eze.44:26] And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.
[27] And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord GOD.

And this is why we came here.

Eze.44:28] And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.

God is our inheritance, speaking of his Elect. What a wonderful time and blessing it will be. Another great study in Isaiah today, let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible