ISAIAH LESSON 25

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THE FAST THAT GOD APPROVES

Isaiah 58
Memorise God’s Word for the week: Isaiah 58:11.

Discuss review questions from the previous lesson.

DAY 1: ISAIAH 58:1-3A—THE ISRAELITES’ FAST

1. According to 58:1, what did God tell Isaiah to do?

2. What did the people seem to be doing right (58:2)?

3. According to 58:2b, what did God say that shows the people were not being sincere?

4. What question did the people ask God (58:3a)?

5. What spiritual benefits might a person experience by fasting from food or something else, in a way
that honours God?

DAY 2: ISAIAH 58:3B-5—THE WRONG KIND OF FAST

6. The people were abstaining from food and putting on sackcloth and ashes. What other actions did
God see them doing on their fast days?

7. What were the people hoping would happen because of their fast (58:4b)? Would they receive what
they hoped for?

8. What do you think the actions and attitudes of the people revealed about the way they viewed
and related to God?

DAY 3: ISAIAH 58:6-7—THE FAST GOD DESIRES

9. What actions did God say are part of the kind of fasting He approves of?

10. What characteristics of God that we have seen in Isaiah do the actions listed in 58:6-7 reflect?

11. Read Joel 2:12-13. How would this kind of fasting fulfil what God asked His people to do?

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 HOME STUDY QUESTIONS FOR LESSON 25 2 ISAIAH

12. What is a way a person could implement this kind of fasting today?

DAY 4: ISAIAH 58:8-12—GOD’S BLESSINGS ON THE TRUE FAST

13. List the blessings God promised to those who fast in a way that pleases Him (58:8-12).

14. From 58:9-10, what are the conditions God expected the people to meet in order for Him to bless
them in the ways this passage lists?

15. Have you ever fasted in one of the ways described in 58:6-7? What blessings or benefits did you
receive from that experience?

DAY 5: ISAIAH 58:13-14—KEEPING THE SABBATH

16. How were God’s people supposed to honour the Sabbath (58:13)?

17. What promises did God give to those who honour His Sabbath in this way (58:14)? What might
these promises mean?

18. The word Sabbath means “cease” or “rest.” According to Exodus 20:8-11, why is the Sabbath important,
from God’s perspective?

DAY 6: PARTICIPATE IN CLASS

APPLY what you have learned. Though Isaiah 58 was written millennia ago, the needs and issues
it highlights still fill our communities today. Those without clothes still need them, people without
shelter still need it, the hungry need to be fed, the oppressed need justice, and our families need
our care and attention. And God still wants us to reflect His nature in how we care for these needs.
How has this lesson on the kind of fasting God approves of challenged you personally? What do
you need to talk with Him about in response to it?

 ISAIAH 3 COMMENTARY FOR LESSON 25

DAY 7: THE FAST THAT GOD APPROVES

Isaiah 58
GOD’S RESPONSE TO THE PEOPLE’S FAST (ISAIAH 58:1-5) While scrupulously observing religious
ceremonies, in reality the Israelites were forsaking “the judgment of their God” (compare 1:2-4).
Why would God charge them with sin when their worship and fasting appeared to be just as He
prescribed (see Leviticus 16:29-31)? The Israelites were fasting with sackcloth and ashes to humble
themselves before God and ask righteous judgments of Him. Yet, it appears He did not hear them:
“Why have we fasted, and you see it not?” they asked. “Why have we humbled ourselves, and you
take no knowledge of it?”
God gave His people a clear reply: their day of fasting demonstrated their divided hearts. Even
though they had fasted and called on Him, they continued to “seek [their] own pleasure,” exploit
those who worked for them, and quarrel among themselves.
So from God’s perspective, it was offensive for the people to display a posture of bowing and
humility and, at the same time, refuse to fully obey Him. While they were fasting and pleading for
His attention, they mistreated those around them. God wanted their whole lives to reflect their
devotion to Him. Otherwise, their fasting would not affect Him.
THINK ABOUT the spiritual discipline of fasting. Jesus instructed His disciples that fasting must be done
secretly, before God alone and not to impress people (see Matthew 6:16-18). Spiritual disciplines such as
fasting are vital to our life with God. The danger is in dividing these practices from the rest of our lives so
that they don’t affect how we live and treat others. When we go to God, we bring all of who we are. He
wants access to our entire lives.

FASTING THE WAY GOD APPROVES (I SAIAH 58:6-12) God clearly told the Israelites the kind of fast He
would approve of. It was not merely a day spent going hungry and wearing sackcloth and ashes.
Along with abstaining from food, the people were to stop practicing “wickedness” and oppressing
others. They were to help feed “the hungry,” provide shelter for “the homeless,” clothe “the naked,”
and care for their “own flesh”—their relatives. Doing these things, not abstaining from food, would
demonstrate to God that His people were heeding His instructions and wanted to please Him above
all.
God expected His people to exercise justice and righteousness. Next to their love for God (see
Deuteronomy 6:5), their responsibility was to show love and compassion toward those around them
(see Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 5:16-21).
THINK ABOUT the life-giving and practical work God desires from His people. God is at work in the world,
caring for people. He wants His people to join Him in these tasks. When we walk with a disenfranchised
person through a convoluted legal system, expend ourselves to help feed the hungry in our community,
reach out to the homeless, and clothe the poor, we are joining God in His work in the world. How is He at
work in your hometown?

God’s favour on those who reflected His love and concern for others would “break forth like the
dawn” (Isaiah 58:8), like light rising in the darkness. God would provide quick healing, righteous-
ness, and protection for them. He promised His own glory as their rear guard, reminiscent of the way
His glory in the pillar of cloud and fire protected their ancestors during the exodus from Egypt (see
Exodus 13:21-22; 14:19-20). Also, God offered to make Himself available to them. When they
would cry out to Him, He would answer and assure them of His presence.
The Lord, through Isaiah, offered these blessings to people who would fight oppression and hunger
and refrain from any malicious talk or gesture. Their gloom would be lifted if they would extend
themselves to help people in need.
In addition to lifting His people’s gloom, God would provide guidance and strength to all
who would practice justice toward their neighbours. Like a well-watered garden and a

 COMMENTARY FOR LESSON 25 4 ISAIAH

spring of water, the righteous would be a source of refreshment and nourishment to others.

Wrapping up the idea of what God would do for people who act righteously and justly, Isaiah spoke
of rebuilding a city (see Isaiah 58:12). This verse may be a figure of speech to describe how the
righteous would build up what was torn down as a result of sin and wickedness. It may also refer to
the time when Jerusalem would be physically restored after its destruction (see Nehemiah 2:17).
HONOURING THE SABBATH (ISAIAH 58:13-14) God also called the people to keep the Sabbath
with their whole hearts. When they fasted, they abstained from food. On the Sabbath, God wanted
His people to abstain from work. In this way, they would be acknowledging that He is omnipotent
and that He had created the universe (see Exodus 20:11).
The observance also reminded the Israelites that they had been slaves in Egypt and that God had
redeemed them (see Deuteronomy 5:15). Further, it was a sign that God was making them holy as
His special people (see Exodus 31:16-17). By observing the Sabbath and turning from evil, they
could practically express their reverence for God.
The Lord reminded His people of the appropriate attitude and benefits of keeping His day holy (see
Isaiah 58:13-14). He pointed out what He wanted them to abstain from on that day: “going [their]
own ways,” “seeking [their] own pleasure,” and “talking idly.” Instead, they were supposed to
honour this day.
If God’s people would observe the Sabbath with a God-honouring heart attitude, then they
would experience “delight in the LORD” (Isaiah 58:14). They would proceed as triumphant
conquerors, abounding in their divinely promised prosperity.
Even though the people were hearing Isaiah speak these words to them, God told them it was not
Isaiah who was giving the message—it was “the mouth of the LORD.” These were, and still are for us
today, God’s sure words.
For us, as for the Israelites, true fasting and keeping the Sabbath as God desires certainly require
discipline and sacrifice. But, we can enjoy so many blessings when we fast and regularly set aside
a special day to honour and worship our Lord.
PERSONALISE this lesson. Arranging our schedules to accommodate a spiritual and physical Sabbath rest can
be difficult. But when we do it, we actually demonstrate our dependence on God and our faith that He can take care
of us. We don’t have to be in control. If you don’t already observe a Sabbath, take a baby step: set aside just three
hours sometime during the next week when you can completely stop being productive and “take delight in the
LORD” (Isaiah 58:14). Then talk to God about your experience.

REVIEW: THE FAST THAT GOD APPROVES

19. From the Commentary or teaching, choose one of the following and share what you learned about it: (1)
fasting, (2) keeping the Sabbath, or (3) the consequences of sin on a society.