The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 361

EXPOSITION. sacrifices, the abstaining from unolean CHAPTER LVIII. meats, the avoidance of external defilement, Vers. 1-12.-FORMALISM REBUKED AND the payment of vows, the observance of the !NsTRlJCTIONS GIVEN WITH RESPECT TO FAST- one appointed fe.st, and the like. They ask of me the ordinances of justioe. Either ING. As in the lo.st section, so here, the "they claim at God's hands righteous prophet's eye seems to rest upon his con- judgments on their enemies" (Delitzeoh): temporaries rather than upon the exiles; or "they demand of God a fidelity to his and to note the vices of the time, which covenant engagements correspondent to have a general resemblance to those re- their own (assumed) fidelity to theirs." They take delight in approaohing to God. buked in eh. i The whole Law seems to be So the LXX., the Vulge.te, Calvin, Vitringa.. in force, and the people to make a show of and Kay. Others prefer to render, "they keeping it, and to complain that they a.re desire the approach of God" (Knobel, not prop,·rly rewarded for their religious- Delitzach, Cheyne); i.e. they desire that he ness. God tears the mask from their face, will come to help them against their foes. Ver. 3.-Wherefore have we fasted, say and shows the difference between true re- they, and thou aeeat not1 The fasting ligion and the pretence of it. spoken of is probably that of the great Day Ver. 1.-Cry aloud; literally, erg from fM of Atonement. the only fasting commanded throat; "ll. plein goaier," a.a Calvin ea.ye. in the Law (Lev. xvi. 29, 31). Other fasts The command is addressed to the prophet were from time to time appointed by civil by Jehovah, who will have him warn the or eccleaiaatica.l authority (1 Kings xx.i. 9, people in such sort_ a.a to compel their atten- 12; 2 Chron. :u. 3; Joel i. 14; ii. 12, 15); tion. Lift up thy voioe like a trumpet but they were rare, and do not seem to be (comp. Hoa. viii 1; Joel ii. 1). The here iutended. SLill, the lesson is general, trumpet gives a note of alarm. Show my and would apply to all occasions of fa.sting. people their transgression ; i.e. " show them The Jews of the time expected, it would how they a.re especie.lly offending me at seem, some special definite result, in the this time" (see Micah iii. 8). way of victory or relief, to follow from their Ver. 2.-They seek me daily, and delight observance of the Atonement fast. As it to know my ways (compare the picture drawn did not follow, they regarded themselves as in eh. i 11-15). We have there exactly ill used, and accordingly made complaint. the same representation of a people honour- Their feelings approached to those of the ing God with thP.ir lips, but whose hearts Vedic worohippers, who regarded their re- are far from liim-zea.lous in all the outward ligioue observances as "not merely pleasing forms of religion, even making "many the god who was the object of them, but as prayers" (eh. i. 15), but yet altogether an laying him under a binding obligation, and offence to God. They are not conscious almost compelling him to grant the requests hypocrit,,e-quite the reverse; they are bent of the worshipper" (' Religions of the on "doing rigl,teouanese," on not forsaking Ancient World,' pp. 143, 144). AfBioted God's ordinance, on continually "approach- our soul. These are the ex.a.et words of ing" him; but they a.re wholly without a Lev. xvi. 29, 31, by which the fast of the proper sense of what religion is-they make great Day of Atonement was instituted. it a matter of outward observance, and do And thou takest no knowledge ; rather, no not understand that it consists in the notice. In the day of your tut ye Ind devotion of the heart. That did righteo111- pleasure. Delitzsch and Mr. Oheyne render, ne11, and fonook not j rather, that hath done "ye carry on bueinese," which nl)OOrds better righteoume.u, and 114th not j<>r,aken. The with the claw,e which follows. 'fhe great righteousness is, of course, forensio legal Day of Atonement was, like the sa.bbo.th, right.eoume-~e offering of the appointed a da.7 on wbictl 1:10 work WIii to be dou tJtt. LVIIt. 1-14.] THE BOOK OF 'rHE PROPHE'r ISAIAE.. 313