Then Shall Thy Light Rise

Isaiah 58:1–9 KJV 1900

1 Cry aloud, spare not, Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, And shew my people their transgression, And 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 God: They ask of me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching to God. 3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, And exact all your labours. 4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, And to smite with the fist of wickedness: Ye shall not fast as ye do this day, To make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A 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 the Lord? 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, 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 thine health shall spring forth speedily: And thy righteousness shall go before thee; The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. 9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, The putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

The prophets were not only predictors, they were “instruments of righteousness unto God.” They were not only “Seers,” they were doers of the Word. God’s servants must be faithful. “Cry aloud and spare not.” Their attitude must be unmistakable. “Lift up thy voice like a trumpet.” Their message must be practical. “Shew my people their transgressions” (v. 1).

I. Their Religious Acts

They had drifted into a formal observance of religion, but at heart it was practical ungodliness. They took pleasure in knowing His ways, and forsook not His ordinances (v. 2), yet they were practising self-deception and delusion. They seem to think that by appointing a periodical fast, and afflicting their souls, that this would atone for their gluttony and insincerity (vv. 3, 4). Religion can not save you! You can go through the motions of church and never have an experience with God.

I want more than the motions of church!

I want a true experience with God!

I don’t want religion! I want a true move of God!

God is not mocked (v. 5). “Bearing the head like a bulrush, and spreading sackcloth and ashes under him,” doth not touch the sin of the soul.

See Matthew 15:8 “8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

James 1:22 “22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

II. God’s Desire

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen?” (vv. 6, 7). Here is God’s interpretation of “a fast.” His fasts are soul-saving facts. His remedy is exactly suited to the disease. He says the fast you need is to—

1. “Loose the Bonds of wickedness” (r.v.). Wickedness, or lawlessness, is spiritual bondage.To break every chain that binds! To set free by the washing and regeneration of the word!

2. “Undo the Heavy Burdens.”

To give the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness! To help other set aside every weight that so easily besets us! James says, “I will shew you my faith by my works.”

3. Break every Yoke.” “Let the oppressed go free.” The yoke of every oppressor is to be broken. Break the yoke of evil habit, fear of man, love of the world, pride of life, self-will, covetousness, etc. The anointing will break the yoke! A true Christian will pray for the anointing to help others!

4. Care for the Poor (v. 7).

Give “bread to the hungry.” Shelter to the outcast!

Covering to the naked!

The man who shutteth up the bowels of his compassion from the destitute cannot know the indwelling love of God

1 John 3:17 “17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”

III. Then Shall Thy Light Rise

“Then.” This word is emphasized in the Hebrew.

1. “Then shall thy light break forth”

(v. 8).

Obedience to God’s will is the clearing of the window through which the light of His favour will shine as the morning.

2. “Then shall thy healing spring forth.”

Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness. This light has healing in its beams. The moral diseases within cannot stand the dawn of the light of His truth.

3. “Then thy righteousness shall go before thee.”

Thy rightness with God, and with men, will go before thee like the prayers of Cornelius, as a memorial before God (Acts 10:4).

4. “Then the Glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.”

Righteousness before thee, and the glory of the Lord behind thee. What a testimony this is. Leaving behind the sweet savour of His presence and glory. The Shepherd’s care before thee, and His goodness and mercy following thee all the days of thy life. What a rearguard!

5. “Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer”

(v. 9).

Then shall your fellowship with Him be sweet, and your prayers answered. When iniquity is cleared out of the heart, then the way is clear for the Lord to show favour (Psa. 66:18). If we would receive of Him, “whatsoever we ask,” it will be “because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).

Then! we need to strive for the then! Paul said in Philippians 3:14 “14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

How many of you want to strive for the then? Press toward the prize! God is waiting for you with mercy and grace!

Philippians 3:14 KJV 1900

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.