Summary of Isa 58-60
Chp 58
Speaks about true fasting. It talks about how they were just going through the motions of fasting --- but yet doing what they wanted to do, that their hearts were not in it. It was only the appearance of righteousness. They did not honor Him with their hearts. Honoring God is doing what’s on His heart, like feeding the hungry, providing shelter and clothing for the poor and the widow.
By fasting the body learns to obey the soul, by praying the soul learns to command the body –William Secker
Chp 59 Separation from God --- it is sin that separates us from God
Speaks about the Lord’s hand is not too short that He cannot save, that he cannot hear but wickedness and sin separate us from God
The phrase “the Lord's hand is not shortened” in verse 1 means that the Lord's power to save has not decrease
God is always available and fully capable of helping His people. God never moves away from His people; they move away from Him.
Whenever we feel distance from God, it is up to us to repent of our sins and return back to Him because He is at the same place where we previously left off. Awaiting with open arms..
Chp 60
The future Glory of Zion it starts with Arise and shine for their light has come. It refers to coming out of a spiritual depression into a new life. It speaks about how the Lord will rise upon Jerusalem and His glory will be seen. It speaks about how nations will come to them and kings drawn to the brightness of their rising. They will be radiant and rejoicing. Foreigners will build up their walls and their kings will serve them. In His wrath he struck them but, in his favor, and grace He had compassion on them.
Arise and shine, God is saying get up from that dark place that the enemy takes us to at times. He reminds us that He is light and hope. Light and darkness cannot exist in the same place at the same time. It’s either or. When we focus on God and who we are in Him and His promises, it brings us out of dark places.
