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.
Look, you fast only to cause arguments and fights, and to strike others with evil intentions. You cannot fast the way you're doing now and expect God to hear your prayers.
God is saying that fasting while harboring anger and causing conflict makes your prayers ineffective.
📚 Historical Context
Isaiah was addressing the Israelites who were going through the religious motions of fasting but were hypocritical in their behavior. They would fast as a religious duty but continued to treat others poorly, engage in disputes, and act with malice. This was likely during a time when the people were seeking God's favor through religious rituals while ignoring the heart attitudes God truly desired.
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