Isaiah 58:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Anyone who refrains from their own works—submitting their authority over personal desires to divine commandments—honors the Sabbath spiritually and observes a truly sacred day. This understanding is illustrated by the prophetic words, "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbaths, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day." To "turn away thy foot from the Sabbaths" signifies the necessity of refraining from fulfilling one’s own desires and deviating down paths of lust. The nature of human desires tends to lean towards pleasures, a fact affirmed by the wise Paul, who states, "For what I do, I do not understand. For I do not practice what I will to do, but what I hate, that I do. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man, but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" (Rom. 7:15, 22, 23). He refers to the Sabbaths as sweet when no one acts out of their own will; inability to comply with God’s desires signifies stubbornness and lack of restraint. This was indeed true for Israel, demonstrated by the words, "I have seen thy hardness, and thy brow is brass" (Isaiah 48:4). Therefore, those who are obedient during the Sabbath display a form of inactivity that is pleasing to God, engaging in spiritual rest by avoiding worldly matters and concentrating on what is holy, as well as refraining from shameful, unclean, and detestable actions. God desires that people master even their anger and control their speech. If, as He advises, one speaks words out of anger, they fall into two vices, and abstaining from them leads one to perfection before God, as articulated by one of the holy apostles: "If anyone does not err in word, the same is a perfect man and able to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2). One who conquers anger is truly commendable, with the opposite being equally clear, for it is written, "He that is cruel brings shame" (Proverbs 11:25). Therefore, God wishes those who rest spiritually and righteously to be gentle and embody numerous virtues. He commands them not to place their trust in wealth, worldly authority, physical strength, or anything akin to the fleeting grass of the field, but rather in the Lord, the sovereign provider of all goodness. Those who cultivate such a lifestyle, regardless of their identity, will be rewarded, as expressed when He says, "And He will lift you to the good things of the earth, and He will make you the inheritance of Jacob your father." The God of all creation assured the Jewish ancestors of the promised land, and they entered it under the guidance of Jesus, who succeeded Moses as the leader of divine worship. However, one may wonder why in the discussed verses He assures them of the inheritance promised to their forefather Jacob, suggesting that it has not yet been received. This inheritance does not pertain to physical land or that which has been divided among them by lot, which was previously gifted to the holy Jacob, or to Abraham and Isaac. Rather, it refers to the blessing the Savior indicated when He proclaimed, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). To affirm that this promise will indeed be fulfilled, He declares, "The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it: it is inconceivable that divine words should go unfulfilled; for God is truth."

The law instructs us not to engage in servile labor on the Sabbaths, nor to kindle fires, nor to remain stationary; instead, we should only engage in activities that promote our spiritual salvation. When taken literally, this can seem impossible to achieve. Who among us can sit motionless all day on the Sabbath, refraining from any movement? Hence, we must interpret some commandments spiritually, ensuring we do not partake in servitude that endangers our spiritual freedom; for “everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). We must avoid carrying burdens on the Sabbath, mindful of the words, “My iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are too heavy for me” (Psalm 87:5), recognizing that sin, represented as a lead weight (Zechariah 5), must have no dominion over us, so that our carnal desires remain extinguished. Love is akin to a furnace within the heart (Hosea 7), and the adversary possesses fiery arrows to assail the righteous (Psalm 10). Additionally, we are instructed to not look back when we take up our plow (Luke 9), and while seeking a higher calling, to not cast aside the temporal garments of this world, akin to the instruction given by Moses, “But you stand here with Me” (Exodus 34). Like the Lord at the well of Samaria, who felt thirst for the salvation of the lost, we should heed the Apostle’s counsel, “Be steadfast, immovable” (1 Corinthians 15:58), so that we do not mimic Judas the betrayer, who lost his place and turned to wickedness, remembering always the admonition, “If the spirit of the one who possesses you comes upon you, do not abandon your post” (Ecclesiastes 10:4).

Anyone who rests on the Sabbath, maintains purity in heart and action, and avoids yielding to personal desires, honors the joyous Sabbaths of the Lord. This Sabbath, as noted in the epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 4), is assured to us in heaven, with glory awaiting us if we observe the Sabbath without following our ways or speaking foolishly—essentially, without sinning in thought or deed. Moreover, if we thought that sin was permitted on the other six days simply because it is prohibited on the Sabbath, we would be misguided. Therefore, the Sabbath, which means rest, must be continually sanctified by the faithful through the realization of spiritual desires rather than fleshly ones. However, the Seventy does not include “in wrath out of your mouth” in their text. The Savior invites us to celebrate this Sabbath with reverence, saying, “Come unto Me all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), for “I will rest you” signifies that when we set aside the burden of our sins, we enter into a state of rest in Christ, as we declare, “Set my feet upon the rock” (Psalm 39:3) and avoid the pitfalls to which the righteous nearly succumbed, saying, “My feet have almost stumbled” (Psalm 72:2).

After an unbiased discussion of these considerations, everyone is called to choose that which is most pleasing to God, even if it goes against personal desires and does not satisfy physical cravings. Following God's will often entails hardship and labor instead of immediate gratification. Despite this, it is imperative to adhere to God's wishes rather than succumbing to self-interest and fleshly tendencies. Self-centeredness, arrogance, and carnal cravings lead to shame and draw us closer to spiritual ruin. It is wise to confront these inclinations, as Isaiah the prophet states, “If you keep your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your own pleasure on My holy day... 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” (Isaiah 58:13-14). To illustrate this further, consider those who are ill, particularly with stomach ailments—the best guidance would be to refrain from indulging in their cravings, as these could be detrimental rather than beneficial. Foods like fresh watermelons, melons, cucumbers, mushrooms, strong beverages, cold water, and unripe fruits can entice overeating and exacerbate digestive issues, impacting not only the sick but sometimes even the healthy, despite their enjoyable taste. A similar principle applies in our moral lives: we often find ourselves drawn to what stimulates our senses and grants us outward admiration, leading to pride before others—essentially, the transient pleasures of the world that are detrimental to our spiritual well-being. Such distractions can pull our desires toward the temporary and material, diverting our spirits from the Divine and the everlasting, thus moving us away from God and leading us into darkness.