Old Testament - Isaiah 58 & 59 - October 3, 2022

 10/3/2022 – Isaiah 58 & 59

Isaiah 58 helps us in learning how to put some of the Lord’s commandments into our daily lives.  This chapter speaks of the law of the fast and Sabbath day observance—and that observance helps us keep the rest of our days in ways the Lord would approve of. He wants us to “take delight in approaching to God.” (v 1). 

Evidently the Israelites have been fasting, but not in a way to bring them closer to the Lord. He wants us to fast in order “to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free…it is 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” (v 6-7) 

Then the Lord tells them what to expect after fasting in this manner: “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. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am” (v’s 8-9)

He goes on in v 11 “And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought…and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” In v 13 He then gives us the “do not’s”: we are to refrain from “doing thy pleasure on my holy day”—When we figure out how to fast as the Lord would want, “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…” (v 14)

Isaiah 59 At this point in time the Israelites are “separated from their God by iniquity”. Their actions and thoughts and purposes have “separated between you and your God” (v 2) “The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings; they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.”(v 8)

The Lord is trying to help the Israelites understand that when they sin, they are separating themselves from God. And as I read the things He told them so long ago, I realize once again that our protection in this world is to stay close to the Lord. And that requires regular and sincere prayers on at least a daily basis. And our reward will be “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall gift up a standard against him.” (v19)

He knows we are not perfect, and He is always there if we call upon Him. When we stumble on our way, we should immediately go to the Lord and ask for Him to help us get back on a path He would have us on. When we repent of our sins, Then Christ will intercede for us and redeem us. He doesn’t just forgives…He also forgets our stumbles that we have worked to block our of our daily lives.


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