Isaías 58

El verdadero ayuno

1 »¡Grita con toda tu fuerza, no te reprimas!Alza tu voz como trompeta.Denúnciale a mi pueblo sus rebeldías;sus pecados, a los descendientes de Jacob.

2 Porque día tras día me buscan,y desean conocer mis caminos,como si fueran una naciónque practicara la justicia,como si no hubieran abandonadomis mandamientos.Me piden decisiones justas,y desean acercarse a mí,

3 y hasta me reclaman:“¿Para qué ayunamos, si no lo tomas en cuenta?¿Para qué nos afligimos, si tú no lo notas?”»Pero el día en que ustedes ayunan,hacen negocios y explotan a sus obreros.

4 Ustedes solo ayunan para pelear y reñir,y darse puñetazos a mansalva.Si quieren que el cielo atienda sus ruegos,¡ayunen, pero no como ahora lo hacen!

5 ¿Acaso el ayuno que he escogidoes solo un día para que el hombre se mortifique?¿Y solo para que incline la cabeza como un junco,haga duelo y se cubra de ceniza?¿A eso llaman ustedes día de ayunoy el día aceptable al SEÑOR?

6 »El ayuno que he escogido,¿no es más bien romper las cadenas de injusticiay desatar las correas del yugo,poner en libertad a los oprimidosy romper toda atadura?

7 ¿No es acaso el ayuno compartir tu pan con el hambrientoy dar refugio a los pobres sin techo,vestir al desnudoy no dejar de lado a tus semejantes?

8 Si así procedes,tu luz despuntará como la aurora,y al instante llegará tu sanidad;tu justicia te abrirá el camino,y la gloria del SEÑOR te seguirá.

9 Llamarás, y el SEÑOR responderá;pedirás ayuda, y él dirá: “¡Aquí estoy!”»Si desechas el yugo de opresión,el dedo acusador y la lengua maliciosa,

10 si te dedicas a ayudar a los hambrientosy a saciar la necesidad del desvalido,entonces brillará tu luz en las tinieblas,y como el mediodía será tu noche.

11 El SEÑOR te guiará siempre;te saciará en tierras resecas,y fortalecerá tus huesos.Serás como jardín bien regado,como manantial cuyas aguas no se agotan.

12 Tu pueblo reconstruirá las ruinas antiguasy levantará los cimientos de antaño;serás llamado “reparador de muros derruidos”,“restaurador de calles transitables”.

13 »Si dejas de profanar el sábado,y no haces negocios en mi día santo;si llamas al sábado “delicia”,y al día santo del SEÑOR, “honorable”;si te abstienes de profanarlo,y lo honras no haciendo negociosni profiriendo palabras inútiles,

14 entonces hallarás tu gozo en el SEÑOR;sobre las cumbres de la tierra te haré cabalgar,y haré que te deleitesen la herencia de tu padre Jacob».El SEÑOR mismo lo ha dicho.

Isaías 58 Commentary

Chapter 58

Hypocrisy reproved. (1,2) A counterfeit and a true fast, with promises to real godliness, and, (3-12) to the keeping the sabbath. (13,14)

Verses 1-2 The Holy Spirit had hypocrites of every age in view. Self-love and timid Christians may say, Spare thyself; dislike to the cross and other motives will say, "Spare the rich and powerful;" but God says, "Spare not:" and we must obey God, not men. We all need earnestly to pray for God's assistance in examining ourselves. Men may go far toward heaven, yet come short; and they may go to hell with a good reputation.

Verses 3-12 A fast is a day to afflict the soul; if it does not express true sorrow for sin, and does not promote the putting away of sin, it is not a fast. These professors had shown sorrow on stated or occasioned fasts. But they indulged pride, covetousness, and malignant passions. To be liberal and merciful is more acceptable to God than mere fasting, which, without them, is vain and hypocritical. Many who seem humble in God's house, are hard at home, and harass their families. But no man's faith justifies, which does not work by love. Yet persons, families, neighbourhoods, churches, or nations, show repentance and sorrow for sin, by keeping a fast sincerely, and, from right motives, repenting, and doing good works. The heavy yoke of sin and oppression must be removed. As sin and sorrow dry the bones and weaken the strongest human constitution; so the duties of kindness and charity strengthen and refresh both body and mind. Those who do justly and love mercy, shall have the comfort, even in this world. Good works will bring the blessing of God, provided they are done from love to God and man, and wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit.

Verses 13-14 The sabbath is a sign between God and his professing people; his appointing it is a sign of his favour to them; and their observing it is a sign of their obedience to him. We must turn from travelling on that day; from doing our pleasure on that holy day, without the control and restraint of conscience; or from indulging in the pleasures of sense. On sabbath days we must not follow our callings, or our pleasures. In all we say and do, we must put a difference between this day and other days. Even in Old Testament times the sabbath was called the Lord's day, and is fitly called so still; and for a further reason, it is the Lord Christ's day, ( Revelation 1:10 ) . If we thus remember the sabbath day to keep it holy, we shall have the comfort and profit of it, and have reason to say, It is good to draw near to God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 58

From the wicked and antichristian party the prophet is bid to turn to the professors of the true religion, and openly, boldly, and sharply, reprove them for their sins, particularly their hypocrisy and formality in worship, Isa 58:1,2, who yet were angry, and complained that the Lord took no notice of their religious services, particularly their fasting, which is put for the whole; the reason of which was, because they did not fast aright; it was attended with much cruelty, strife, and wickedness, and only lay in external appearances, Isa 58:3-5, when they are directed how to keep a fast, and are shown what a true fast is, and what works and services are acceptable to God, Isa 58:6,7 on doing of which, light, health, prosperity, and hearing of their prayers, are promised, provided the yoke of oppression is taken away, and compassion shown to the poor, Isa 58:8-10, yea, a very fruitful and flourishing estate of the soul is promised, and a rebuilding of waste places, delight in the Lord, and great honour and dignity; so be it that the sabbath of the Lord, or public worship, is attended to in a proper manner, Isa 58:11-14.