This chapter gives the correct reason for fasting, and tells of the good works, which genuine Christians must have in their lives.

The watchman must do what God requires. Modern day Israel must be told their sins. This will be done when God is ready.

Isa 58:1  “Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.

There will be a time in Jacob’s trouble when Israel may appear to repent. These people appear to have repented, but they are still covetous.

Isa 58:2  Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.

Eze 33:30  “As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.’

Eze 33:31  So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.

Eze 33:32  Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.

They fast incorrectly. Look at the selfish attitude.

Isa 58:3  ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.

Isa 58:4  Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.

Fasting is not a public affair.

Mat 6:16  “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Mat 6:17  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

Mat 6:18  so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Isa 58:5  Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD?

This is the correct method of fasting, and the beautiful rewards from God for good works.

Isa 58:6  “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?

Isa 58:7  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Isa 58:8  Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Isa 58:9  Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

Isa 58:10  If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

Isa 58:11  The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Isa 58:12  Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

Isa 58:13  “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words,

Isa 58:14  Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

What we must do, taken from this chapter.

[1] Fast to get rid of any wickedness we may have.

[2] Undo heavy burdens [sin]

[3] Let oppressed go free. [Help the downtrodden]

[4] Break every yoke. [Get rid of what holds us back from obeying God]

[5] Feed the hungry.

[6] Take in the homeless.

[7] Give clothes if someone needs them.

[8] Take care of family.

[9] Don’t point the finger [accuse others]

[10] Don’t be vain.

[11] Keep Sabbath correctly. [includes annual Sabbaths]

God’s reward for doing the above.

[1] We will walk in the light of God.

[2] Good health.

[3] Our righteousness will show.

[4] God will protect us.

[5] God will answer our prayers.

[6] Our light will shine. [Living God’s way will be apparent]

[7] Our darkness will disappear. [Good will reign over evil]

[8] God will guide us.

[9] We will be fed in times of drought.

[10] We will have a watered garden.

[11] We will have a sure supply of water.

[12] We will rebuild the destruction from the time of the end.

[13] We will restore God’s way of life.

[14] We will delight in the Lord.

[15] We will receive the blessings of the new covenant.