The Strand Study Bible

ISAIAH 58:1

ISAIAH 58:9

1119

day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread 5 sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? 6 to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 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 8 flesh? 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. 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;

1. Ezk 6:11 & 21:12, 14 & Hos 5:8 & I Tim 5:20 & Titus 1:9-13 2. that is, “ wherefore have we fasted (afflicted ourselves - Lev 16:29 & 23:27) and you (God) did not take notice?” - Jere 36:9-32 3. that is, “do all you have in mind to do” 4. I Ki 21:9-13 5. Esther 4:3 6. that is, “self- destructive habits that bind us (lust, bitterness, hatred, etc.)” 7. Deut 15:7-11 8. or, “relatives” - I Tim 5:8

Isaiah 58 The wrong and right way to fast Date Written - c. 700 BC/AM 3300

1 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. 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. 3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? 2 wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and 3 exact all your labours. 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, 4 to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a

58:1 Due to Judah’s conscious rebellion against God’s laws, Isaiah was commanded to preach at the top of his voice ( cry aloud ), sounding a warning to God’s people that their continual hypocrisy offended God to no end. Yet, in spite of their rebellion and sin, God’s people continued to act as if they were a righteous people that genuinely sought after God. Wrapped in a cloak of hypocrisy, their rebellion and sin was highly insulting to God (vs 2). 58:3 Fasting is always wrong when done for selfish reasons ( ye find pleasure ) ( Zech 7:5, I Ki 21:9-13 and Jms 4:3). 58:5 The motions of religious observances (external manifestations) do not constitute proper fasting. Abstaining from food (fasting) should simply be an outward demonstration of inward sincerity. 58:6 God “chose” the kind of fast that humbles us and breaks us to the point of mourning (Mt 9:14-15). True fasting results in men and women becoming more holy (vs 6), more forgiving (vs 6), more merciful (vs 6 and Psa 35:13), and more giving (vs 7). According to the Bible, there are four kinds of fasting: 1. Burdened-hearted fasting – This kind of fasting and prayer results from grief and frustration. Men refuse to eat because they’re too burdened to eat (Judg 20:24-26, I Sam 1:1-7 & 31:11-13, II Sam 1:1-12 & 3:33-35, I Ki 19:8-10, Dan 6:18-20 and Ezra 10:1-6). 2. Broken-hearted fasting – This kind of fasting and prayer results from a desire to gain, or regain, 3 spiritual necessities: (1) the presence of God (I Sam 7:3-6); (2) the pity of God (i.e., God’s grace and mercy - II Sam 12:9-22 & 17:26, Psa 69:1-10, I Ki 21:27, Joel 1:13-14 & 2:12-14, Jonah 3:4 and Neh 1:1-11 & 9:1-3); and (3) the protection of God (II Sam 15:31, Psa 109:24, II Chro 20:1-4, Esther 4:1-16 and Ezra 8:21-23). 3. Bad-hearted fasting – This kind of fasting and prayer results from selfishness and pride. Men refuse to eat for four different reasons: (1) to seek prestige and position (Mt 6:16-18 & 9:14-15 and Lk 18:12); (2) to seek profit (I Ki 21:9-12); (3) to seek pleasure (Isa 58:3-8); and (4) to seek power (Acts 23:12-13). William McBirnie in Secrets of Successful Prayer notes: Some prayer is almost evil; especially if it tries to bend God to our purposes. 1 4. Bible-hearted fasting – This kind of fasting and prayer results from a desire to know God’s Word so we can do God’s will for the sake of others (Exo 24:18, Deut 9:9, Exo 34:28, Deut 9:18, Lev 16:29-34 & 23:32, I Sam 24:22, Psa 35:13-14, Dan9:1-3,23-27 & 10:1-14, Zech 8:19, Mt 4:1-4, Lk 4:1-2, Mt 9:14, Mk 2:18, Lk 5:33, Lk 2:36-37, Acts 9:9 & 10:30 & 13:1-4 & 14:23, I Cor 7:4-5 and II Cor 6:3-5 & 11:23-27). NOTE – The only fast required by law was on the Day of Atonement ( Lev 16:29 ). Mark Hitchcock in Blood Moons Rising notes: Yom Kippur was the only day every year when fasting was required and was the only day when the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies. 2 58:9 Our prayers are not “heard” ( and the LORD shall answer ) because we fast, but because our fasting humbled us and led us to a holier life. Holy living is what bends the ear of God our way (Psa 10:17, Job 27:8-9, Prov 15:29 & 28:9, Psa 66:18, Isa 1:15-16 & 59:1-2 and Jn 9:31). THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Fruitless fasting always leads to pointless praying 1 McBirnie, William. Secrets of Successful Prayer (Booklet) 2 Hitchcock, Mark. Blood Moons Rising , Carol Stream, IL, Tyndale. 2014. Print.