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Commentary on Isaiah 58 verses 13–14
Great stress was always laid upon the due observance of the sabbath day, and it was particularly required from the Jews when they were captives in Babylon, because by keeping that day, in honour of the Creator, they distinguished themselves from the worshippers of the gods that have not made the heavens and the earth. See Isa 56:1, Isa 56:2, where keeping the sabbath is joined, as here, with keeping judgment and doing justice. Some, indeed, understand this of the day of atonement, which they think is the fast spoken of in the former part of the chapter, and which is called a sabbath of rest, Lev 23:32. But, as the fasts before spoken of seem to be those that were occasional, so this sabbath is doubtless the weekly sabbath, that great sign between God and his professing people - his appointing it a sign of his favour to them and their observing it a sign of their obedience to him. Now observe here,
I. How the sabbath is to be sanctified (Isa 58:13); and, there remaining still a sabbatism for the people of God, this law of the sabbath is still binding to us on our Lord's day.
1.Nothing must be done that puts contempt upon the sabbath day, or looks like having mean thoughts of it, when God has so highly dignified it. We must turn away our foot from the sabbath, from trampling upon it, as profane atheistical people do, from travelling on that day (so some); we must turn away our foot from doing out pleasure on that holy day, that is, from living at large, and taking a liberty to do what we please on sabbath days, without the control and restraint of conscience, or from indulging ourselves in the pleasures of sense, in which the modern Jews wickedly place the sanctification of the sabbath, though it is as great a profanation of it as any thing. On sabbath days we must not walk in our own ways (that is, not follow our callings), not find our own pleasure (that is, not follow our sports and recreations); nay, we must not speak our own words, words that concern either our callings or our pleasures; we must not allow ourselves a liberty of speech on that day as on other days, for we must then mind God's ways, make religion the business of the day; we must choose the things that please him; and speak his words, speak of divine things as we sit in the house and walk by the way. In all we say and do we must put a difference between this day and other days.
2.Every thing must be done that puts an honour on the day and is expressive of our high thoughts of it. We must call it a delight, not a task and a burden; we must delight ourselves in it, in the restraints it lays upon us and the services it obliges us to. We must be in our element when we are worshipping God, and in communion with him. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! We must not only count it a delight, but call it so, must openly profess the complacency we take in the day and the duties of it. We must call it so to God, in thanksgiving for it and earnest desire of his grace to enable us to do the work of the day in its day, because we delight in it. We must call it so to others, to invite them to come and share in the pleasure of it; and we must call it so to ourselves, that we may not entertain the least thought of wishing the sabbath gone that we may sell corn. We must call it the Lord's holy day, and honourable. We must call it holy, separated from common use and devoted to God and to his service, must call it the holy of the Lord, the day which he has sanctified to himself. Even in Old Testament times the sabbath was called the Lord's day, and therefore it is fitly called so still, and for a further reason, because it is the Lord Christ's day, Rev 1:10. It is holy because it is the Lord's day, and upon both accounts it is honourable. It is a beauty of holiness that is upon it; it is ancient, and its antiquity is its honour; and we must make it appear that we look upon it as honourable by honouring God on that day. We put honour upon the day when we give honour to him that instituted it, and to whose honour it is dedicated.
II. What the reward is of the sabbath - sanctification, Isa 58:14. If we thus remember the sabbath day to keep it holy,
1.We shall have the comfort of it; the work will be its own wages. If we call the sabbath a delight, then shall we delight ourselves in the Lord; he will more and more manifest himself to us as the delightful subject of our thoughts and meditations and the delightful object of our best affections. Note, The more pleasure we take in serving God the more pleasure we shall find in it. If we go about duty with cheerfulness, we shall go from it with satisfaction and shall have reason to say, "It is good to be here, good to draw near to God."
2.We shall have the honour of it: I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, which denotes not only a great security (as that, Isa 32:16, He shall dwell on high), but great dignity and advancement. "Thou shalt ride in state, shalt appear conspicuous, and the eyes of all thy neighbours shall be upon thee." It was said of Israel, when God led them triumphantly out of Egypt, that he made them to ride on the high places of the earth, Deu 32:12, Deu 32:13. Those that honour God and his sabbath he will thus honour. If God by his grace enable us to live above the world, and so to manage it as not only not to be hindered by it, but to be furthered and carried on by it in our journey towards heaven, then he makes us to ride on the high places of the earth.
3.We shall have the profit of it: I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father, that is, with all the blessings of the covenant and all the precious products of Canaan (which was a type of heaven), for these were the heritage of Jacob. Observe, The heritage of believers is what they shall not only be portioned with hereafter, but fed with now, fed with the hopes of it, and not flattered, fed with the earnests and foretastes of it; and those that are so fed have reason to say that they are well fed. In order that we may depend upon it, it is added, "The mouth of the Lord has spoken it; you may take God's word for it, for he cannot lie nor deceive; what his mouth has spoken his hand will give, his hand will do, and not one iota or tittle of his good promise shall fall to the ground." Blessed, therefore, thrice blessed, is he that doeth this, and lays hold on it, that keeps the sabbath from polluting it.
(Verse 14.) Then you will delight in the Lord [Vulg. the Lord); and I will lift you up above the heights of the earth, and I will feed you with the inheritance of Jacob your father. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. LXX: And you will trust in the Lord: and he will exalt you above the good things of the earth, and he will feed you with the inheritance of Jacob your father. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. After you have called the delicate Sabbaths and have not moved your foot on the Sabbath to do servile work, nor have you spoken a word, that is, you have always been silent, and have fulfilled what is commanded: Restrain your tongue from evil, and let your lips not speak deceit (Psalm 34:14): then you will delight in the Lord and see that you are fulfilled: Delight in the Lord, and he will grant the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). Whether you have confidence in the Lord, according to what is written: Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. And in Jeremiah: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and the Lord will be his hope (Jeremiah 17:7). And elsewhere: It is good to trust in the Lord rather than to trust in man (Psalm 118:8). And the Lord will lift you up and exalt you above the heights and the good things of the earth. For the earth is soft, and the earth of the living is not downwards, but upwards. Finally, to Lot fleeing from the valley of Sodom and Gomorrah, it is said: Make yourself safe on the mountain (Genesis 19). And when he reached there, the sun rose for him in Segor. Concerning this land, the Lord said: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:4): and many other things that we have frequently mentioned, among which is this: Honor your father and your mother, and you will live long on the earth that the Lord your God has given you (Exodus 20:12). Which cannot be completely true according to the letter. For many honor their parents and die quickly, while others who are parricides live for a long time. But that the land is situated in the heights, let us briefly recall the 36th Psalm, in which it is written: The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. After this, it is added: Wait for the Lord, and keep his ways: and he will exalt you, that you may possess the earth (Psalm 37:11): concerning which it is sung in another place, The righteous shall inherit the earth, and shall dwell on it forever and ever (ibid., 34). Which in itself is also impossible. For if the earth shall pass away, how can the righteous dwell on it forever and ever? From this we learn that there is a land that is situated in the heights. After this, it is added: And I will feed, or rather, the Lord will feed you with the inheritance of Jacob your father. For just as he who has faith is called the son of Abraham, so he who suppresses vices and sins is called the son of Jacob. And the one who imitates someone's virtue is called their son. But the good things of the land, which is situated in the heights, with which the son of Jacob is satisfied, must be understood as those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have they entered into the heart of man (1 Corinthians 2). Concerning these, it is written in the Letter to the Hebrews: For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland: and if, indeed, they sought one, from which they had departed, they would have had an opportunity to return to it. But now they desire a better homeland, that is, a heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 11:14 et seqq.). From this we learn that the fable of a thousand years, in which again marriages and food and the conversation of earthly life are promised, must be rejected. For if in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels; for they are sons of the resurrection (Matthew 22); and concerning the belly and food, the Apostle says: Food for the belly, and the belly for foods: but God will destroy both it and them (1 Corinthians 6:13), how can we seek the vices of the former mortal and corrupt flesh again, with an incorrupt and spiritual and immortal body? And we say these things, not because we deny the substance of the glorified body, but in order to completely remove the former works in those who are like the angels. Otherwise, even in this still existing body, through fasting and continence, and perpetual chastity and charity, we imitate the angelic virtues, and yet we do not lose the substance of our bodies. In order to believe that all these things will come to pass, let us know that they have been promised by God, whose mouth has spoken: so that just as in the hands there is activity, and in the feet there is movement, and in the belly there is generation, and in the ears and eyes there is hearing and seeing: so in the mouth let us understand the word of God.
He teaches the manner [in which it is required] to rest: “Nor speak a word in anger out of your mouth,” he says, “and you shall trust in the Lord”; it is as though if he ordains to honor the sabbath by making an end to bad actions and clinging to the accomplishment of good actions. There you see why he imposes a double duty even on priests, for they offered double sacrifices; they were required to sacrifice the victims and to clean the meats, offer them on the altar, light the fire and bring wood to the fire to feed it. Similarly, the reading of the divine word was done in abundance, as was the chanting of hymns and the prayer. And all that shows that the law diverted them from practical realities to lead them to spiritual realities on the day of the Sabbath, for they could not act continuously in such a way, given that they lived in a too-carnal fashion and were entirely absorbed in the cares they took with the body. “And he shall bring you up to the good places of the land and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.” And [here is] the confirmation of what he has just said: “For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.” The One who has made the promise does not lie, he says; he will undoubtedly grant you to take part in his beneficence, and you will enjoy the providence accorded to your ancestors.
“I will lift you up upon the high places of the earth.” For he is lifted up on the high places of the earth who treads under foot through looking down on them in his mind, even the very things of the present world, which seem lofty and glorious. But, having been suddenly dashed from this summit of things by the whirlwind of this trail, I have fallen into fears and tremors, since, even though I have no fears for myself, I am greatly afraid for those who have been committed to me. On every side I am tossed by the waves of business and sunk by storms, so that I may truly say, “I am come into the depth of the sea, and the storm has overwhelmed me.” After business I long to return to my heart; but driven from there by vain tumults of thoughts, I am unable to return.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 58:14 serves as the climactic promise in a profound prophetic discourse, articulating the abundant divine blessings awaiting those who wholeheartedly delight in the LORD and genuinely honor His ways. This verse assures God's people of spiritual exaltation, secure standing, and lavish provision, emphasizing that these covenant promises are guaranteed by the unwavering faithfulness of God's own spoken word, fulfilled through sincere obedience and devotion.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 58:14 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful and reassuring message. Metaphor is prominently used, particularly in the phrase "cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth," which vividly portrays divine elevation, security, and triumph rather than a literal act of horseback riding on mountains. This image functions as a potent symbol of dominion, safety, and a position of honor granted by God. The expression "feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father" utilizes synecdoche, where "feed" represents comprehensive provision and sustenance, and "heritage of Jacob" stands for the entire scope of the covenant blessings promised to Israel through their patriarch. The entire verse functions as a promise, a divine assurance of future blessing contingent upon a specific condition (delighting in the LORD and honoring His ways). Finally, the concluding phrase, "for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it," acts as a powerful affirmation or divine oath, emphasizing the absolute certainty, reliability, and immutability of God's word, serving as a powerful rhetorical flourish to seal the promise and instill confidence.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 58:14 profoundly connects the spiritual discipline of delighting in the LORD with tangible, multifaceted blessings of exaltation, security, and abundant provision. It reveals that God's desire is not for empty ritual or outward piety, but for a heart genuinely devoted to Him and His righteous ways. This genuine devotion, characterized by delight in God and obedience to His commands (including Sabbath observance and acts of justice), then unlocks the fullness of His covenant promises. This verse underscores the timeless biblical principle that true prosperity, both spiritual and material, flows from a deep, obedient, and intimate relationship with God, where He becomes the ultimate source of joy, satisfaction, and security. It highlights God's unwavering faithfulness to His word, reassuring His people that His promises are certain to be fulfilled.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 58:14 issues a profound call to a radical reorientation of our desires and priorities. It challenges us to honestly examine where our true delight resides. Is it in worldly pursuits, fleeting pleasures, self-gratification, or the accumulation of temporal possessions? Or is our deepest satisfaction, joy, and pleasure found profoundly and genuinely in the LORD Himself—in His character, His presence, His commands, and His redemptive purposes? When we cultivate a heart that truly delights in God, prioritizing His ways (which include principles of rest, worship, justice, and compassion for the marginalized) over our own agendas and selfish desires, we position ourselves to receive His abundant and multifaceted blessings. This verse assures us that such a life is not one of deprivation or austerity, but rather one of true elevation, security, and a rich, enduring inheritance. It encourages us to trust implicitly in God's spoken word, knowing that His promises are unfailingly true and that He will indeed cause us to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed us with a heritage far richer and more secure than anything we could achieve or imagine on our own.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "ride upon the high places of the earth" mean in a practical sense for believers today?
Answer: In a practical sense, "to ride upon the high places of the earth" signifies being elevated by God to a position of spiritual and often practical prominence, security, and victory. It means experiencing God's divine protection, provision, and favor that sets one above the common struggles and adversities of life. For believers today, this can manifest as spiritual authority over sin and temptation, resilience in trials, divine wisdom in decision-making, and a life marked by God's blessing and influence, enabling them to impact their spheres of influence for His glory. It's about living a life of triumph and stability, not necessarily measured by material wealth, but by a deep sense of God's sovereign care, exaltation, and enablement, as seen in how God often lifts up those who humble themselves before Him (James 4:10).
How does "the heritage of Jacob thy father" apply to New Testament believers, given that we are not physical descendants of Jacob?
Answer: While New Testament believers are not necessarily physical descendants of Jacob, the concept of "the heritage of Jacob thy father" applies through spiritual inheritance, as revealed in the New Covenant. The New Testament teaches that believers in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, are spiritual descendants of Abraham and "heirs according to promise" through faith in Christ (Galatians 3:29). The blessings promised to Jacob (Israel) were ultimately rooted in the Abrahamic covenant, which pointed forward to the ultimate blessing of salvation and redemption found in Christ. Therefore, the "heritage" for believers today encompasses the spiritual blessings of salvation, the indwelling Holy Spirit, eternal life, access to God as adopted children, and the promise of a future inheritance in God's eternal kingdom (Romans 8:17). It signifies God's faithful provision for all who are united to Christ by faith, fulfilling the spiritual intent and broader scope of the Old Testament promises.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 58:14 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The command to "delight thyself in the LORD" is perfectly embodied by Christ Himself, who always did the will of His Father and found His ultimate joy and sustenance in perfect obedience and communion with God (John 4:34). He is the true Israel, the faithful Son who perfectly honored God's commands, including the spirit of the Sabbath, by bringing healing, liberation, and life to humanity (Mark 2:27-28). Through His sacrificial life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Jesus has definitively caused His followers to "ride upon the high places of the earth." He has elevated us from the depths of sin, death, and spiritual destitution to sit with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), granting us spiritual dominion and security in Him, far above all principalities and powers (Ephesians 1:20-21). Furthermore, Christ Himself is the ultimate "heritage of Jacob," for in Him, all the promises made to Abraham and Jacob find their resounding "Yes" and "Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20). Through faith in Him, we are not merely fed, but richly nourished with the spiritual inheritance of eternal life, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and adoption into God's family as co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). The certainty that "the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it" is supremely confirmed in Christ, the Living Word, through whom God's redemptive plan has been perfectly accomplished and eternally guaranteed for all who believe (John 1:1-14).