Study Questions:
1. Can we fast and achieve no results? Why? (Isaiah 58:3)
2. What are the rewards of true fasting? (Isaiah 58:8-11)
3. How does the prophet describe the true meaning of Sabbath observance? (Isaiah 58:13, 14)
4. Can you explain why you believe this blessing is for both Jews and non-Jews?
Commentary and Reflection:
Isaiah 58 is one of the most widely read chapters in the book of Isaiah because it addresses themes relevant to both the Jewish people and Christians throughout history. It contains the prophet’s words rebuking hypocrisy, highlighting the difference between false and true fasting. It also declares God’s promises to the devout who recognize the Sabbath as the Lord’s day. Both themes are significant, not only for the Jews in the prophet’s time but also for Christians today.
Fasting has often been misunderstood. Many believers participate in fasting without fully grasping its foundations. Isaiah 58 explains its true meaning:
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:6, 7)
This passage does not dismiss the practice of abstaining from food for a certain period to focus on prayer and meditation. This spiritual exercise has been proven to be effective. Fasting is not a form of physical punishment, as Jesus taught. Some fast by consuming only juices or fruits, which are not taxing on digestion. Others, like diabetics, may be unable to fast for extended periods due to health reasons. The key is that each person develops a fasting plan that benefits their relationship with the Lord.
A somewhat humorous memory comes to mind of a young student at Antillean College, where I had the honor of studying. One Sabbath was declared a day of fasting and prayer. That afternoon, the young man went to the city for some missionary visits. Around 3 p.m., with the sun still shining, he was so hungry that he sat in the city square to “close the Sabbath!” He ended his short fast by entering an ice cream parlor for a cone. This anecdote made us laugh. I do not criticize the young man; after all, it is likely he did not fully understand the true spirit and purpose of fasting.
Since fasting should have a personal and specific motivation, you may have experienced a crisis that desperately required communion with the Lord. In such moments, fasting is not a requirement but a support. You cling to God and don’t want to let go until He blesses you; in fact, you may even lose your appetite. What you long to consume is “every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
In Christ’s time, the Pharisees and other religious leaders loudly proclaimed when they were fasting, feigning suffering to appear pious and devout. Jesus spoke clearly against this attitude (Matthew 6:16). Nothing offends God more than hypocrisy. He accepts a sincere sinner over a hypocritical Christian.
While the study of chapter 58 has captured our attention, we must not overlook the importance of chapter 59 in Isaiah. It is truly a complement to the previous chapter.
Here, the prophet exposes the vile nature of sin among the Jewish people—and among us all—and its inevitable consequences of calamity. He proclaims that salvation comes solely from the Lord and emphasizes the importance of the Redeemer’s covenant.
We should memorize Isaiah 59:1: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or His ear dull, that it cannot hear.”
I invite you to raise your hand and offer this prayer:
“My God and Redeemer, I acknowledge that I have disobeyed and wounded Your tender heart. I now come to You, confessing my sins and pleading for You to wash me in the blood of the Lamb. I want to embrace Your covenant so that the Holy Spirit may come upon me in such a way that I can give a faithful testimony with my life and that Your words may be passed on to my children and my children’s children, now and forever. Amen!”
Pastor Rolando de los Rios
