THE VENEER OF GODLINESS IS HYPOCRISY

ISAIAH 58

Isaiah 58 begins the third section of chapters 40-66.  The message of redemption reaches a majestic climax along with the vision of a New Jerusalem as the spiritual center of the world.  The long awaited peace with, “No sound of weeping or cry of distress,” has finally come, leading to the promise of the New Heaven and New Earth.  The apostle John also wrote of this in the Revelation of Jesus Christ in chapter 21:1-4.  The Holy Spirit of God moves Isaiah to write and put the finger on that which blocks the grace and glory of God.  Men and women who are “religious” and are church members who curse like sinners, who are dishonest in business, who are immoral in their social lives reveal the reason for God rejecting their religious acts.  The Bible is clear that God is nauseated with this type of hypocrisy and the message to the Laodicean Church in Rev. 3:16, along with Isaiah’s message, should make this clear to all the generations of mankind. 

Isaiah 58 opens with the words, “Shout at the top of thy voice” and follows with “Like a trumpet” which is a shofar used by the Priests to call to a solemn assembly or to sound a signal for action like a military commander.  God is going to use Isaiah to tell the people of the world that they are suffering from the disease of sin; and if they do not turn from their wicked ways, eternal separation from almighty God will result.  The point being made in Isaiah 58:1-2 is that the people acted as if they truly were seeking God and would be delighted in His ways, but they wanted to do this one on their terms.  God demands a complete change of heart which results in a new relationship to our fellowmen as recorded in Matthew 22:37-40.  When a person goes to a Temple or Church to worship because it is the popular thing to do, not because it is the right thing to do, then our worship becomes hypocritical.  The people boasted about their fasting, but it was for public show, failing to realize that fasting was a private matter between the soul and God.  Worshiping God involves more than outward practices or rituals; there must be an inward obedience and submission to the Lord.  “On the day of your fast you pursue your pleasure” infers that they were taking up with business and pleasure instead of seeking to be repentant and needing the mercy of God.  We might add that fasting and fighting do not go together.  How many families worship together and leave the church appearing as a happy group only to fight and argue all the way home.

The results of worship and seeking God are to set free those who are crushed and oppressed.  To distribute thy bread to the hungry is the practical usage of Matt. 25:35-36 where Christ identified Himself with those who suffer and are in distress.  God’s  favor and blessing are contingent upon a person seeking to do what is acceptable to Him.  Here is a call for faith and action to go hand in hand as in James 2:14-18.

One of the most beautiful promises to the true child of God is a continuous guidance and a never-failing spring of divine help.  Isaiah 58:11 and John 4:14 go hand in hand as we see Jesus ministering to the Samarian women at the well.  The Holy Spirit is given to us and will produce His fruit in our lives as we truly yield to Him on a daily and yes hourly basis.

It’s interesting to note that Isaiah used the keeping of the Sabbath as a visible acknowledgment of the sovereignty of Jehovah as Lord of our lives and of our time.  The Sabbath unified Israel throughout the ages, and it’s been said, “More than the Jews kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath kept the Jews.”  Perhaps we as Christians should once again cherish our privilege to keep the first day of the week in rest, in worship and in ministry to others.  In all too many cases, this Lord’s Day has become a pleasure-seeking time in which God only occupies a minor slot.  Perhaps it’s time to restore the enjoyment of some of our ancestral heritage of making Sunday not just another day.  Notice when we honor the Lord, He causes us to ride on the high places of the earth, and Isaiah makes it clear that mouth of the Lord spoke there promises of blessing for obedience.