The Delight of the Sabbath
"Sure! Here is the King James Version of Isaiah 58:13-14: "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."" - Isaiah 58:13-14

The book of Isaiah is rich with prophetic insights and practical calls to righteousness, but none are quite as poignant as Isaiah 58:13-14. In these verses, God sets forth a divine call to honor the Sabbath, marking it as a day not just of rest but as a holy delight. The extract from the King James Version reads:
"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
### The Nature of the Sabbath
The Sabbath is not merely a day off; it is a sacred appointment with God. From the very beginning of creation, God instituted the Sabbath as a day of rest (Genesis 2:2-3). It is a time designed for communion, reflection, and renewal. Isaiah's reminder that we must "turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day" points to the necessity of prioritizing God’s purpose over our personal desires.
### Honoring the Day
In our contemporary world, the temptation is strong to sideline the importance of the Sabbath in favor of our pleasures and distractions. Our busy lives often leave little room for God, yet Isaiah beckons us to view the Sabbath as a delight, an honor that we must cherish. When we relinquish our busy schedules and the clutter of daily life to follow this divine directive, we align ourselves to experience the profound joy and peace that accompanies honoring God on His holy day. The Sabbath is a day to step back from our pursuits and acknowledge the bountiful blessings God has bestowed upon us.
### The Call to Delight
Isaiah instructs us to call the Sabbath a delight. Can we truly say that our observance of this day brings us joy? Do we approach the Sabbath as an opportunity to delight in God's presence? In calling the Sabbath a delight, we are invited to rediscover the joy that comes from rest and divine fellowship. Consider how our approach changes if we see this day not just as an obligation, but as a necessary retreat into divine reverie. It becomes an outpouring of love and reverence toward our Creator and an opportunity to fill our souls fresh with His Spirit.
### The Blessings of Obedience
Scripture assures us that when we honor the Sabbath, we will delight ourselves in the Lord: "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth…" This symbolizes that our communion with God causes us to rise above the earthly challenges, finding sustenance in His promises. Isaiah beautifully assures that in obeying God’s command, we are not only fulfilling a duty but are also recipients of His unending blessings.
### The Journey Continues
As we embrace the Sabbath, we must also engage in its practice with intention and purpose. This involves active choices: refraining from our own ways, avoiding our pursuits, and opening our lips to speak the words of God—not just in silence, but in praises and reflections that empower us and build our community. This is the essence of honoring God on His day.
### Conclusion
Isaiah 58:13-14 is not just a stern admonition but a heartfelt invitation to derive our sustenance from God while engaging in sanctified rest. As we prepare to observe the Sabbath, let us commit to turning our focus away from worldly matters and instead embracing the delight that comes from setting apart this day for the Lord. May we find our highest joy in communion with Him and, as a result, ride upon the high places of the earth, nourished by the rich heritage He has bestowed upon us. For, truly, the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
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Isaiah 58:13-14 Artwork
Isaiah 58:13-14 - "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."
"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 58:13-14
Isaiah 58:14 - "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."
Isaiah 58: 1-12
Matthew 13:58 - "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."
Isaiah 58:14 (KJV) Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah 58:13 - "¶ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:"
Isaiah 58:10 - "And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:"
Isaiah 58:4 - "Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high."
"And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." - Matthew 13:58
"And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." - Matthew 13:58
Isaiah 58:13 "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 shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward." - Isaiah 58:8
Isaiah 58:1 - "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."
Mark 14:58 - "We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."
Isaiah 58:6 - "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?"
"Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." - Isaiah 58:14
"And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." - Matthew 13:58
Leviticus 13:58 - "And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean."
Isaiah 58:7 - "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"
Isaiah 58:1"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.
Isaiah 58:12 - "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."
Isaiah 58:2 - "Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God."
Isaiah 58:8 - "¶ Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward."
Isaiah 13:14 - "And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land."
Isaiah 58:11 - "And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."
Isaiah 58:10 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.
Isaiah 58:5 - "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?"
Isaiah 14:13 - "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:"
Isaiah 14:13-14 - "You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'"