Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
They ask, 'Why have we fasted, and you don't see it? Why have we denied ourselves, and you don't notice?' But look—on the days you fast, you still pursue your own interests and force your workers to labor.
God is pointing out that the people's religious fasting is meaningless because they continue to mistreat others and pursue selfish pleasures even while they're supposedly seeking Him.
📚 Historical Context
This comes from a time when the Israelites had returned from exile in Babylon and were going through the motions of religious observance, including regular fasting. However, their hearts weren't truly changed—they were treating their workers harshly and pursuing their own business interests even on days set aside for spiritual devotion. God, through Isaiah, was calling out their hypocrisy.
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