Isaiah-Chap-58
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Remember the
following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago and of today have, and are shamefully disobeying this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction to Isaiah Chapter 58:
This chapter is a profound discourse on the nature of true
devotion. It serves as the traditional Haftarah reading
for Yom Kippur because it challenges the worshipper to look beyond ritual.
Isaiah distinguishes between “mechanical” religion, fasting and prayer done
while maintaining an “ethical” religion, which demands social action and
heart-centered kindness. It teaches that the bridge to the Divine is built
through how we treat our fellow human beings. Blessed be אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God).
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Let us now read Yeshayahu - Isaiah Chapter 58: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a horn, and declare unto My people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
2. Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways; as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, they ask of Me righteous ordinances, they delight to draw near unto אֱלֹהִים.
3. ‘Wherefore have we fasted, and Thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takest no knowledge?’. Behold, in the day of your fast ye pursue your business, and exact all your labours.
4. Behold, ye fast for strife and contention, and to smite with the fist of wickedness; ye fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high.
5. Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to יְהוָה - the LORD?
6. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to
loose the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the
oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of יְהוָה - the LORD shall be thy rearward.
9. Then shalt thou call, and יְהוָה - the LORD will answer; thou shalt cry, and He will say: ‘Here I am’. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedness;
10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thy gloom be as the noon-day;
11. And יְהוָה - the LORD will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places, thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.
13. If thou turn away thy foot because of the Sabbath, from pursuing thy business on My Holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of יְהוָה - the LORD honourable; and shalt honour it, not doing thy wonted ways, nor pursuing thy business, nor speaking thereof;
14. Then shalt thou delight thyself in יְהוָה - the LORD, and I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of יְהוָה - the LORD hath spoken it’”.
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Let us now look at the ‘verse by verse’, with explanations:
Verse 1: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a horn, and declare unto My people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins”.
Explanation: The Prophet is commanded to act as a spiritual alarm (a Shofar). The “sins” mentioned are not just ritual errors, but a systemic failure to live up to the Covenant.
Verse 2: “Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways; as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, they ask of Me righteous ordinances, they delight to draw near unto אֱלֹהִים - Elohim”.
Explanation: On the surface, the people appear pious. They attend services and study, yet there is a disconnect between their public worship and their private integrity.
Verse 3: “‘Wherefore have we fasted, and Thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takest no knowledge?’ Behold, in the day of your fast ye pursue your business, and exact all your labours”.
Explanation: The people complain that אֱלֹהִים isn’t “responding” to their fasting. אֱלֹהִים answers: ‘Your fasts are ineffective because you continue to exploit your workers and focus on profit while pretending to be in mourning’.
Verse 4: “Behold, ye fast for strife and contention, and to smite with the fist of wickedness; ye fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high."
Explanation: Their “piety” has become a source of arrogance and internal fighting. A fast fueled by anger or ego cannot reach the Heavens”.
Verse 5: “Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to יְהוָה - the LORD?”
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים mocks the outward “performance” of humility, the bowed head and the uncomfortable clothing, if the heart remains unchanged”.
Verse 6: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”
Explanation: Isaiah Chapter 58, this is the core of the chapter. True “fasting” is defined as social justice: breaking the chains of systemic poverty and freeing the burdened.
Verse 7: “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”
Explanation: Holiness is found in the direct act of charity (Tzedakah), feeding the hungry and recognizing that the stranger is “thine own flesh” (a fellow human).
Verse 8: “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of יְהוָה - the LORD shall be thy rearward”.
Explanation: When social justice is practiced, the spiritual “blockage” clears. Light and healing follow naturally from ethical living.
Verse 9: “Then shalt thou call, and יְהוָה - the LORD will answer; thou shalt cry, and He will say: ‘Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedness;”
Explanation: Communication with אֱלֹהִים is restored once the “putting forth of the finger” (blame and mockery) is removed from the community.
Verse 10: “And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thy gloom be as the noon-day;”
Explanation: It is not just about giving bread, but "drawing out thy soul", giving of oneself with empathy.
Verse 11: “And יְהוָה - the LORD will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in draught, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not”.
Explanation: This beautiful metaphor promises spiritual sustainability. Those who pour into others will be replenished by the Divine Spring.
Verse 12: “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell יְהוָה - the LORD”.
Explanation: Those who live ethically become the “Repairers of the Breach" (Goder Peretz), rebuilding the moral foundations of society for future generations.
Verse 13: “If thou turn away thy foot because of the Sabbath, from pursuing thy business on My Holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, and the Holy of יְהוָה - the LORD honourable; and shalt honour it, not doing thy wonted ways, nor pursuing thy business, nor speaking thereof;”
Explanation: The focus shifts to the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not a burden but a “delight” when we step away from the mundane world of commerce.
Verse 14: “Then shalt thou delight thyself in יְהוָה - the LORD, and I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the earth; and I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of יְהוָה - the LORD hath spoken it”.
“Explanation: The reward for this integrated life honouring both the human and the Divine, is the full inheritance of the covenantal promise”.
My Closing Message:
“Isaiah chapter 58” reminds us that religion is not a performance for אֱלֹהִים, but a transformation of the self and for the sake of the world. It teaches us that our prayers are only as loud as our kindness to the ‘vulnerable’. By aligning our ritual life (the Fast and the Sabbath) with our ethical life (justice and charity), we create a “watered garden” within ourselves that never runs dry”.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes,
and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall
be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
“The More Torah, the
More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts.
be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be
with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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