In the previous chapter, we saw that God has a special place in his heart for the humble. He cares deeply about them. However, he opposes the self-righteous who publicly claim humility, but who never actually possess it. Their goals of self-glorification and obtaining the praise of men result in their failing to to receive the praise of God. In Isaiah chapter 58, the Israelite people fast as a religious ritual, but their lives are not changed. They appear to be seeking their own pleasure rather than seeking what is right. They cast themselves as righteous through fasting while continuing to oppress their workers (Isaiah 58:3b).

As mentioned in the first chapter of this book, the issue of true religion vs. merely external religion is a prominent theme in the book of Isaiah (e.g., Isaiah 1:11-17). It is also a prominent theme in prophetic literature in general:

"With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
(Micah 6:6-8)

"...rend your hearts and not your garments..."
(Joel 2:13a [BSB])

"Circumcise yourselves to the LORD,
and remove the foreskin of your hearts..."
(Jeremiah 4:4a [BSB])

"I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals
I will not look upon them.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
(Amos 5:21-24)

The theme of true religion vs. merely external religion is a prominent theme in the New Testament as well. In the book of James, we see pure religion defined.

Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
(James 1:27 [WEB])

In Matthew chapter 23, Jesus spoke of the religious leaders of that day and compared them to tombs that had been painted a beautiful white, but inside were full of dead men’s bones (Matthew 23:27). He warned that it is not those who are deemed purely as outwardly religious who will be viewed as acceptable to God:

"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation."
(Luke 20:46-47 [NASB, 1977])

Jesus also, in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:35-46), indicated that there will be many surprises on the Day of Judgment. Instead of using the "best seats in the synagogues" as the criteria, he speaks of things such as who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and visited the sick. Throughout the Bible we see that God cares especially for the meek and lowly, the poor and downtrodden, the humble. Appearing outwardly religious is not the key to pleasing God. Many who appear outwardly religious, but who do not follow the simple commands of Jesus, will be surprised and disappointed on Judgment Day.

Isaiah also talks about the promised glories of God's people in chapter 58:

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will come quickly.
Your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry out, and He will say, 'Here I am.'"
(Isaiah 58:8-9a [BSB])

The protection and safety seen in the statement that "the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard" (Isaiah 58:8d) draws upon the imagery of God’s guidance and protection during the Exodus. The Pharoah of Egypt had changed his mind once again and decided that he shouldn't have let the Israelite people go. He then leads his powerful army in pursuit (Exodus 14:5-7). As the angel of God leads the Israelites toward the still unparted Red Sea, the Egyptian army is now in sight and gives chase (Exodus 14:10ff.). As hope seems lost, a pillar of cloud comes between the Israelites and the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:19b-20a). This pillar of cloud, whose presence was seen in the tabernacle, and which led the people on their journey, indicates the presence of God. God intervened between his people and the enemy and provided a path of escape through the seemingly hopeless and insurmountable barrier of the Red Sea.

God promises that, like during the Exodus from Egypt, he would continue to be the rear guard for his people. However, the blessings of God upon his people, and potentially upon those who see them, are dependent upon his people being conduits of God's light to the world around them. Only then will they shine.

"If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
And the LORD will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
(Isaiah 58:9b-11)

The reference in verse 11 to God's people being

...like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.

evokes imagery of the Garden of Eden, or of the imagery in Ezekiel chapter 47 of the life-giving river flowing from the Temple, or of the River of the Water of Life in Revelation chapter 22.

God’s people are to be lights to the world around us. And we do that by reflecting the glory of God. And we call others to share in the glorious light of the Creator. We've been blessed. It's time to bless others.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
(I Peter 2:9 [RSV])

If we prove to be a faithful reflection of God's glory, however dimly, we will be a light that can draw others to God. The light of God will be a blessing both to us and to them.

...but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
(Isaiah 60:2b-3)

Isaiah has a habit, exhibited frequently through the book (e.g., 9:1-10; ch. 35), of beginning a teaching with things that seem at least somewhat reasonable and, even if extraordinary, still fairly justifiably explicable as relating to the nation of Israel. But, at some point, the prophesy transitions to something that is transcendent, incredibly remarkable, and impossible to accept using older, typical understandings. He does this also in this passage.

The promises of God in these verses begin in such a way that they seem appropriate to the physical Israel and understandable in that light. As he progresses through the chapter, he mentions things that may make one uncertain and uncomfortable with that interpretation, but it is still possible to see it in that light. But then...he eventually makes a transition to a plane wherein the old understandings can no longer be applied. It reaches a point where one has to conclude that it is no longer just physical things, and the physical Israel, that is being referred to. This is plain in places like verse nineteen that say that the people will no longer need the sun or moon, that these will no longer be their source of light.

I mentioned before that the book of Revelation draws upon some themes in the book of Isaiah. Notice some of the parallels between a passage in Revelation (Rev. 21:23-27; also, Rev. 22:5) and the book of Isaiah, mostly (but not exclusively) from Isaiah chapter 60:

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light shall the nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it, and its gates shall never be shut by day -- and there shall be no night there; they shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
(Revelation 21:23-27 [RSV])

Compare:

1a. In Revelation:

1b. In Isaiah:

The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light;
but the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down,
nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended.
(Isaiah 60:19-20)

2a. In Revelation:

...and its gates shall never be shut by day...
(Revelation 21:25a [RSV])

2b. In Isaiah:

Your gates shall be open continually;
day and night they shall not be shut...
(Isaiah 60:11a [RSV])

3a. In Revelation:

...and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it....they shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
(Revelation 21:24b,26 [RSV])

3b. In Isaiah:

And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lift up your eyes round about, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far,
and your daughters shall be carried in the arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant,
your heart shall thrill and rejoice;
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you....
Your gates shall be open continually;
day and night they shall not be shut;
that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
with their kings led in procession.
(Isaiah 60:3-5,11 [RSV])

4a. In Revelation:

But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
(Revelation 21:27 [RSV])

4b. In Isaiah:

And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not pass over it,
and fools shall not err therein.
(Isaiah 35:8 [RSV])

We have seen how this passage in Isaiah chapter 60 might begin with references that seem to be related to physical Israel, but that, as the passage progresses, things begin to change until it is obvious that physical Israel is no longer the primary reference. We saw this in places like verse nineteen. We also see something of the same in verse 21:

Your people shall all be righteous...
(Isaiah 60:21a)

In a typical kingdom, some are good and some are bad. Some are righteous and some unrighteous. But in the church, all are righteous, not because of what they are doing, but because they have all been declared righteous by God through their being washed in the blood of the Lamb. That’s an admission requirement into God’s kingdom. There won’t be anyone slipping in and remaining unnoticed who hasn’t been washed in the blood. In the Parable of the Marriage Feast in Matthew chapter 22, the king comes to look at the guests and finds a man who doesn't have a wedding garment. The king asked him how did he get in here. The man had no answer, and he was cast out (Matthew 22:11-13). On the King's highway, there will be no dangers or evil outside forces. It will be exclusively the pathway of the redeemed.

And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not pass over it,
and fools shall not err therein.
No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
(Isaiah 35:8-9 [RSV])

"The redeemed shall walk there" (Isaiah 35:9b) because of their "Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." (Isaiah 60:16b) "Redemption" is a prominent theme in the book of Isaiah. Especially noteworthy is the mention of a "redeemer". The word "redeemer" is only found 18 times in most English translations of the Bible. Thirteen of these are in the book of Isaiah.

God's people will be lavishly blessed and loved. The overwhelming emotion of those on the highway will be everlasting joy.

He reads from Isaiah chapter 61, verse one and the first part of verse two (probably from the Septuagint, the old Greek translation of the Old Testament). After this, Luke records:

Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, and He began by saying, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
(Luke 4:20-21 [BSB])

Even though the primary and fullest fulfillment of this passage is found only in the person of Jesus Christ, there is some application that we can make of it to our own lives. Jesus is our example, and we are to try and mold our lives around that pattern. This is a beautiful passage speaking of the mission and life of Christ and, by way of example, the mission and life of the Christian.

In verse one we read,

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me...

This does not apply to the Christian in the same way that it applies to Jesus, since he was anointed with the Spirit of God in a very special and miraculous sense. However, it does show us the power behind our mission, and it can remind us that the individual Christian is also empowered by God for service.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21 [RSV])

Verse one continues,

"…the LORD has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted;"

Some other translations read "meek" or "poor". The life of the Christian is bound up in the preaching of good news to the meek and poor and afflicted and lowly. Good news has been a part of our message since the beginning. The angel who announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds in the field proclaimed that the event was one for joy and rejoicing.

"...behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
(Luke 2:10b [KJV])

Jesus came healing the sick and the lame and the blind, reaching out to the poor and the outcast and the downtrodden, announcing reconciliation with God, and calling men into the kingdom of heaven. This message of "good news"--the gospel--was brought by one who cared about the physical needs of the people, and he cared about more than their physical needs. He cared about their place in the cosmic battle between good and evil that would determine their place in eternity. He spoke of a salvation that was free to all, of a redemption unencumbered by payments and debts, of deliverance from sin, of atoning grace, of a joy and peace that the world cannot provide, and of a home that will be forever free from the ravages of evil and pain and suffering. "Good news". It’s an essential part of the Christian message, and it’s an essential part of the Christian mission.

Verse one goes on to say,

"…he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted."

"Brokenhearted" may include those who have been all but crushed by life’s adversities--who have simply had a rough road in life. Some roads are much rougher than others. If we are going to be God’s people, we need to have a sensitive heart which is open to the needs of those around us, including their physical needs. But "brokenhearted" may also point to the humble in spirit, to the tenderhearted--the brokenhearted--who are despondent and inconsolable because of their own sins, or who are distressed because of the sins present in the church, or who are disheartened and disappointed because of the ungodliness and persecutions by the wicked. If we are going to be God’s people, we also need to be aware of the dangers of sin and evil. Although we definitely need to be concerned with the needs of the people around us, including their physical needs, we especially need to be concerned with and compassionate about their spiritual needs and with their eternal welfare.

Again, in verse one,

"...to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;"

The Bible speaks on other occasions about setting the captives free, or setting the prisoners free (e.g., Isaiah 42:7; 49:9) . It's also interesting to note how many of God's people in the Bible were prisoners or captives:

Joseph
The Israelite nation in Egyptian Bondage
Sampson
Hanani the seer
The prophet Micaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
Daniel
The kingdom of Judah in Babylonian Captivity
John the Baptist
Jesus himself
Peter
Paul
Silas
Epaphras
Aristarchus
Andronicus
Junias
and many others

The words that are used in these verses in Isaiah 61, such as "afflicted", "brokenhearted", "captives", and "those who are bound" would have a special meaning to the people of Isaiah’s day. Isaiah had been prophesying of a coming Babylonian captivity for the people of Jerusalem and of their ultimate release. These predictions of a Babylonian captivity for Judah and Jerusalem are made shortly after the ten northern tribes had been taken into Assyrian captivity. Although these words would have a special significance for the people of Isaiah’s day, they also have a special significance for other times as well. In a world of sin and ungodliness, there will always be people who are brokenhearted and whose lives have been ruined because they have become captives to sin.

Verse two mentions

...the day of vengeance of our God;

Part of declaring "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) is telling not only of the rewards of the righteous, but also of the punishment of the wicked. Evil will not flourish forever. Its days are numbered. Its end is certain.

From the latter part of verse two and much of verse three, we read that the Messiah was also sent

to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion --
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit;

The whole counsel of God also requires that we have a compassionate heart and an encouraging spirit.

The Messiah will be an incredible blessing to his people. Those who mourn will be comforted. Those who grieve will be uplifted, encouraged, and made hopeful. Those who are despondent will instead be celebrated, and exalted, and praised. As he is a blessing to us, we also need to be a blessing to those around us.

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD,

This imagery was mentioned in an earlier chapter. God is looking for a forest of righteousness, with each of us being a component part of that forest.

...that he may be glorified.

The ultimate goal of the Christian is to bring glory to God.

We have a mission to help the poor, to feed the hungry, to comfort the heartbroken, and to lift up the downtrodden. We have an even greater mission in the big picture of converting the lost and bringing them to God's kingdom. But our ultimate goal, exceeding any of these, is to glorify God.

This passage anticipates what we read about, once again in the book of Revelation:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."
(Revelation 21:1-4 [RSV])