Homilist Isaiah 58:5-9 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… In these verses you have the religious instinct working, not through selfishness, but through love, not in formal religious devotions, but in earnest philanthropic services. I. ITS RITUAL IS PHILANTHROPIC SERVICE. "Pure religion and undefiled is this, to visit the widow and fatherless," etc. II. ITS INFLUENCE IS GLORIOUSLY BENEFICENT. What is it? "Light." "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning. Prosperity will come on them as the genial dawning of a long and blessed day. "Health." "Thine health shall spring forth speedily.' All weakness and disease will depart, and healthful vigour will come into the soul. "Righteousness." "Thy righteousness shall go before thee." The eternal law of rectitude — not expediency, not caprice, not passion, not morbid sentiment, will guide the footsteps as a leader through the winding path of life.' "Glory. "The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward" (margin, "shall gather thee up, that ye shall bring up the rear'). III. ITS SPIRIT IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD. "Then shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am." The idea is that if men would only be real in their religion, show their love to Him by labouring earnestly for the good of suffering humanity, then He would respond to their prayers, and grant them their request. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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? |
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