Sabbath Thought – Your Light Shall Break Forth

Isaiah chapter 58 is popularly known as a chapter firstly addressing sin in a general sense (verses 1-2), then discussing a wrong perspective and application of fasting (verses 3-5) and following that with God’s direct instruction as to what fasting should actually be like in attitude and desired outcome (verses 6-7).

But God shifts His instruction beginning in verse 8. One of the amazing attributes of God is His redemptive nature – that is He desires to be reconciled to us after we repent! Additionally, He desires to bless us as we seek to reconcile and submit to Him.

We see this in Isaiah 58:8-9 – “Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness.”

God seeks for us to have a tender heart like Him (1 Peter 3:8), and so even as we seek reconciliation with each other God gives blessing. When was the last time we considered that God blesses us to the level of how much we put yokes on others, and how much we point fingers of judgment at others while we express thoughts contrary to God’s instruction and nature?

God continues His instruction as to the behavior He does seek to see in us: “If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken," (Isaiah 58:10-14).

It is easy to think of these points in a physical sense, but it is better to consider them spiritually. Do we seek to help those hungry to learn of God (even those who don’t realize they are starving for God’s truth)? If we do, then God promises to satisfy our “soul” – our life – with His light to remove the darkness of Satan’s influence (and our carnal nature). We will flourish like a well-watered plant. We will have the blessing of establishing a life in God that will “pay dividends” for generations! We will be known for healing other relationships. By honoring His Sabbath, He will have us riding “on the high hills” – to be at the center of what He will be offering to the bulk of mankind in the Millennial reign of His Son! He has spoken it, so it will be accomplished (John 4:34; Romans 4:16; Titus 1:2).

There is much to ponder in this chapter. Perhaps it would be a good review on this Sabbath.

I wish you a very meaningful Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

13 December, 2025