›Isaiah 58
›True Fulfillment
1 “Cry aloud; do not hold back;
lift up your voice like a trumpet;
declare to my people their transgression,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily
and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that did righteousness
and did not forsake the judgment of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgments;
they delight to draw near to God.
3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not?
Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,
and oppress all your workers.
4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
and to hit with a wicked fist.
Fasting like yours this day
will not make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is such the fast that I choose,
a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a reed,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast,
and a day acceptable to the LORD?
(Isaiah 58:1-5, ESV)
6 “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?
7 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?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
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,
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the LORD will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to dwell in.
13 “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,
from doing your pleasure on my holy day,
and call the Sabbath a delight
and the holy day of the LORD honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways,
or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;
14 then you shall take delight in the LORD,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
(Isaiah 58:6-14, ESV)
›Main Point
› The main point of these verses are to consider the failure of the peoples religious overtones
› It isn’t the religious practice itself, it’s that they practice apart from justice and righteousness
› True obedience includes justice and righteousness
› This can only occur once they seek the One who blesses rather than the blessing
Application Points
› True Fulfillment
– Isaiah has a way of reminding us of important things
– He also has no problem calling our hypocritical beliefs
– Religion has a negative overtone
– We have seen religion be utilized for evil purposes throughout our common human history
– We would be lying of we said religion hasn’t been utilized in such ways
– Isaiah says as much bout his own religious system
– There were those utilizing what was meant for good for their own evil designs
– They willingly did wrong because they knew they had a way out
Application Points
› True Fulfillment (2)
– We could complain against them…but the truth is many of us have done the same thing
– There are many who believe they can act however they want and then do something in order to “Get right with God”
– Isaiah declares this is not the purpose, or the true fruit, of religion
– Such a true religion will lead to repentance, a desire to not do what is wrong…but to live according to God
– Jesus says the same thing in the Gospels
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
(Matthew 22:23-28, ESV)
Application Points
› True Fulfillment (3)
– Just as in the time of Isaiah they fasted and tithed, so they did so in Jesus’ time
– Jesus recognizes the things they do (fasting, tithing, etc.) isn’t bad, it’s that they do them without also doing justice, having mercy, or being faithful
– The issue is that they, like their predecessors, believed they could curry God’s favor by practicing rituals rather than living their lives for God
– They were trying to become fulfilled in their religion by seeking their own desires
– Does God want this? No
– He wants followers who trust, love, and are obedient to Him because they know He is the blessing
– When we are obedient and faithful to Him we reflect His image and that is sufficient
Application Points
› True Fulfillment (4)
– Humanity hates this view of religion because humanity is human focused
– We are so focused on getting what we want rather than what we need
– We need God
– There is no greater foundation for all our existence…which does not hinge on God
– That is what true religion recognizes, the end goal in obedience is God Himself
– Because God is worthy of these pursuits…God is goodness itself
– The only way to fulfillment, is to deny oneself and follow God
– It is in humility, recognizing there is only One Being worthy of worship, and that is God
Application Points
› True Fulfillment (5)
– It is in emptying ourselves that we will find our greatest fulfillment
– The world says, “Eat, drink, be merry!”
– God says,
“Be just, righteous, faithful, and you will find all you could ever desire.”
– It is in this way we can join the Apostle Paul when he says in Philippians…
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:4-13, ESV)
Application Points
› True Fulfillment (6)
– This is what is found when we find God.
– Peace, contentment, in and out of season
– By God we find our true fulfillment in any circumstance because we know our God is greater
– The point is this
– Follow God
– Seek to love your neighbor as yourselves
– Seek to be just and reasonable
– Seek to honor God with all your life
– In this way you will find the true fulfillment that only God can provide
Application Points
› The Gospel of Christ
– Origins
– Fall
– Redemption
– Glorification
