◄ Isaiah 58:14 ►
then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Study Bible
then you will delight yourself in the LORD,

Joy in the Lord follows the obedient worship and righteous living described in Isaiah 58. God Himself becomes the faithful person’s satisfaction, rather than religious appearance, material abundance, or human approval. Psalm 37:4 likewise directs the heart to find its delight in the Lord, whose character and promises remain sure.

Psa 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give…
Job 22:26 Surely then you will delight in the Almighty.…
Psa 43:4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God…

and I will make you ride on the heights of the land

God promises restoration, security, and triumph over the conditions of humiliation and oppression that had marked Judah’s disobedience. The image recalls Deuteronomy 32:13, where the Lord caused Israel to ride on the high places of the earth as He supplied and protected His people. Habakkuk also portrays the Lord as giving His servant feet like a deer to walk securely on the heights (Habakkuk 3:19).

Deu 32:13 He made him ride on the heights of the land…
Deu 33:29 Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you?…
Hab 3:19 GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those…

and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.”

Jacob’s heritage includes the covenant inheritance promised through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: the land, God’s preserving presence, and the blessing of belonging to Him as His covenant people. God had reaffirmed these promises to Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:13–15). Faithful Israelites would know anew the covenant blessings that rebellion had forfeited in experience, while God’s purposes for Jacob’s descendants remained secure.

Gen 28:13-15 And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying,…
Gen 35:12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac…
Psa 105:10-11 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel…

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

The promise rests upon the authority of the Lord who cannot lie and whose word does not fail. Judah could trust that repentance, true worship, and covenant obedience would not be overlooked by God.

Isa 1:20 But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured…
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed…
Isa 55:11 So My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who promises blessings to His people when they follow His ways.

2. Jacob
The patriarch of Israel, representing the heritage and promises given to the people of Israel.

3. The Heights of the Land
Symbolic of victory, prosperity, and divine favor.

4. The Prophet Isaiah
The author of the book, delivering God's message to the people of Israel.

5. Israel
The nation to whom the prophecy is directed, called to repentance and true worship.
Teaching Points
Delighting in the LORD
True delight in God comes from a heart aligned with His will and purposes. It involves prioritizing His presence and commands in our lives.

Experiencing God's Promises
The promise of riding on the heights signifies living in the fullness of God's blessings. This is contingent upon our obedience and faithfulness to Him.

Heritage of Faith
As spiritual descendants of Jacob, believers are called to embrace the rich heritage of faith and the promises of God, living in a way that honors this legacy.

The Certainty of God's Word
The phrase "For the mouth of the LORD has spoken" underscores the reliability and authority of God's promises. We can trust that what He declares will come to pass.

Practical Obedience
The context of Isaiah 58 emphasizes practical righteousness, such as justice and compassion, as integral to experiencing God's favor and delight.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to "delight yourself in the LORD," and how can this be practically applied in your daily life?

2. How does the promise of riding on the heights of the land encourage you in your current circumstances?

3. In what ways can you embrace and live out the heritage of faith passed down from Jacob and the patriarchs?

4. How does understanding the certainty of God's spoken word impact your trust in His promises?

5. Reflect on the broader context of Isaiah 58. How does practicing justice and compassion relate to experiencing the blessings described in verse 14?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 32:13
This verse speaks of God making Israel ride on the heights of the land, similar to the promise in Isaiah 58:14, emphasizing divine provision and blessing.

Psalm 37:4
Encourages delighting in the LORD, promising that He will give the desires of the heart, which aligns with the theme of finding joy in God.

Genesis 28:13-14
God's promise to Jacob about the land and his descendants, which is the heritage mentioned in Isaiah 58:14.

Micah 4:1-2
Describes the exaltation of God's people and the establishment of His kingdom, resonating with the imagery of riding on the heights.

Hebrews 11:9-10
Reflects on the faith of the patriarchs, including Jacob, who looked forward to the fulfillment of God's promises.
Sermons
Delighting in GodB. Beddome, M. A.Isaiah 58:14
Duty the Road to ProsperityHomiletic ReviewIsaiah 58:14
Riding Over the HeightsProf. J. Skinner, D. D.Isaiah 58:14
A Healthy ChurchJ. Williams.Isaiah 58:8-14
Break Forth as the DawnProf. J. Skinner,D. D.Isaiah 58:8-14
God the RewarderIsaiah 58:8-14
The Secret of Prosperity to Nations, Churches, and MenR. Paisley.Isaiah 58:8-14
A Sabbath-WeekR. E. Paget, D. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
Better for the Sunday RestChristian Budget.Isaiah 58:13-14
Early English Law an the SabbathR. F. Horton.Isaiah 58:13-14
Rabbinical ProhibitionsR. W. Dale, LL. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
Sabbath ObservanceT. Best, M. A.Isaiah 58:13-14
Sabbath Observance a Godward DutyProf. S. R. Driver, D. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
Sabbath-SpeakingJ. A. Alexander.Isaiah 58:13-14
Speech Rest on SundayF. Delitzsch, D. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Brightest of DaysT. De W, Talmage, D. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Claims of the SabbathE. Johnson Isaiah 58:13, 14
The Day of Sacred RestW.M. Statham Isaiah 58:13, 14
The Institution of the SabbathJ. Saurin.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Luxury of the SabbathProf. G. A. Smith, D. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Sabbath a DelightC. Neale, M. A.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Sabbath a DelightA. Smellie, M. A.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Sabbath a DelightF. Delitzsch, D. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Sabbath a Festive TimeA. T. Pierson, D. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Sabbath a Rest Form SelfR. F. Horton.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Sabbath Compared to the Best Room of the HouseH. W. Beecher.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Sabbath DayJ. Saurin.Isaiah 58:13-14
The Sabbath Made HonourableT. Case, M. A.Isaiah 58:13-14
Thine Own WaysR. W. Dale, LL. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
Turning the Foot from the SabbathF. Delitzsch, D. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
Useless WordsF. Delitzsch, D. D.Isaiah 58:13-14
People
Isaiah, Jacob
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Cause, Caused, Delight, Eat, Feast, Feed, Heights, Heritage, Inheritance, Jacob, Mouth, Places, Ride, Spoken, Thyself
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 58:9-14

     8245   ethics, incentives

Isaiah 58:13-14

     5057   rest, physical
     8287   joy, experience

Library
June 17. "The Glory of the Lord Shall be Thy Reward" (Isa. Lviii. 8).
"The glory of the Lord shall be thy reward" (Isa. lviii. 8). He comes by our side as our helper; nay, more. He comes to dwell within us; to be the life in our blood, the fire in our thought, the faith within us, both in inception and consummation. Thus He becomes not only the recompense of the victor, but the resources of the victory. He is the Captain and the Overcomer in our lives. If we have caught any help that has relieved us of a troubled morning, it has been of Him. He lifts our eyes up unto …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Spiritual Growth
Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring whose waters fail not.' (Isaiah lviii. 11.) 'Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' (2 Peter iii. 18.) The truths of the Bible exist in counterpart, having at least two aspects, each of which must be considered in relation to the other, if their full meaning is to be understood. That is a very necessary statement in regard to the aspect of truth which we emphasize under the general heading of 'Spiritual …
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and Service

Prayer Essential to God
"Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. 14th verse: 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 58:9. It must never be forgotten that Almighty God rules this world. He is not an absentee God. His hand is ever on the throttle of human affairs. He is everywhere present in the concerns …
Edward M. Bounds—The Weapon of Prayer

From his Entrance on the Ministry in 1815, to his Commission to Reside in Germany in 1820
1815.--After the long season of depression through which John Yeardley passed, as described in the last chapter, the new year of 1815 dawned with brightness upon his mind. He now at length saw his spiritual bonds loosed; and the extracts which follow describe his first offerings in the ministry in a simple and affecting manner. 1 mo. 5.--The subject of the prophet's going down to the potter's house opened so clearly on my mind in meeting this morning that I thought I could almost have publicly …
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel

Attributes of Love.
8. Efficiency is another attribute or characteristic of benevolence. Benevolence consists in choice, intention. Now we know from consciousness that choice or intention constitutes the mind's deepest source or power of action. If I honestly intend a thing, I cannot but make efforts to accomplish that which I intend, provided that I believe the thing possible. If I choose an end, this choice must and will energize to secure its end. When benevolence is the supreme choice, preference, or intention of …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Evidences of Regeneration.
I. Introductory remarks. 1. In ascertaining what are, and what are not, evidences of regeneration, we must constantly keep in mind what is not, and what is regeneration; what is not, and what is implied in it. 2. We must constantly recognize the fact, that saints and sinners have precisely similar constitutions and constitutional susceptibilities, and therefore that many things are common to both. What is common to both cannot, of course, he an evidence of regeneration. 3. That no state of the sensibility …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Epistle xxxiv. To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse .
To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse [1331] . Gregory to Venantius, &c. Many foolish men have supposed that, if I were advanced to the rank of the episcopate, I should decline to address thee, or to keep up communication with thee by letter. But this is not so; since I am compelled by the very necessity of my position not to hold my peace. For it is written, Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet (Isai. lviii. 1). And again it is written, I have given thee for a watchman …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

A Summary of the Christian Life. Of Self-Denial.
1. Consideration of the second general division in regard to the Christian life. Its beginning and sum. A twofold respect. 1. We are not our own. Respect to both the fruit and the use. Unknown to philosophers, who have placed reason on the throne of the Holy Spirit. 2. Since we are not our own, we must seek the glory of God, and obey his will. Self-denial recommended to the disciples of Christ. He who neglects it, deceived either by pride or hypocrisy, rushes on destruction. 3. Three things to be …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Entire Sanctification as Taught by John.
John, before Pentecost, was emphatically a Son of Thunder. He could forbid a man to cast out devils in the name of Jesus, because the man was not of his own particular fold. He was ready to imitate Elijah by calling down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans who would not extend the rites of hospitality to his Master. He was eager to have the highest possible place in the coming kingdom of his Lord, and this at whatever cost. But after Pentecost, John was par excellence the apostle of love. …
Dougan Clark—The Theology of Holiness

What Manner of Man Ought to Come to Rule.
That man, therefore, ought by all means to be drawn with cords to be an example of good living who already lives spiritually, dying to all passions of the flesh; who disregards worldly prosperity; who is afraid of no adversity; who desires only inward wealth; whose intention the body, in good accord with it, thwarts not at all by its frailness, nor the spirit greatly by its disdain: one who is not led to covet the things of others, but gives freely of his own; who through the bowels of compassion …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

At a Public Fast in July, First Sabbath, 1650. (257)
At A Public Fast In July, First Sabbath, 1650.(257) Deut. xxxii. 4-7.--"He is the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are judgment," &c. There are two things which may comprehend all religion,--the knowledge of God and of ourselves. These are the principles of religion, and are so nearly conjoined together, that the one cannot be truly without the other, much less savingly. It is no wonder that Moses craved attention, and that, to the end he may attain it from an hard hearted deaf people, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, when Error Prevaileth, and the Spirit of Error Carrieth Many Away.
There is a time when the spirit of error is going abroad, and truth is questioned, and many are led away with delusions. For Satan can change himself into an angel of light, and make many great and fairlike pretensions to holiness, and under that pretext usher in untruths, and gain the consent of many unto them; so that in such a time of temptation many are stolen off their feet, and made to depart from the right ways of God, and to embrace error and delusions instead of truth. Now the question is, …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Cæsarius of Arles.
He was born in the district of Chalons-sur-Saone, A. D. 470. He seems to have been early awakened, by a pious education, to vital Christianity. When he was between seven and eight years old, it would often happen that he would give a portion of his clothes to the poor whom he met, and would say, when he came home, that he had been, constrained to do so. When yet a youth, he entered the celebrated convent on the island of Lerins, (Lerina,) in Provence, from which a spirit of deep and practical piety …
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

Epistle v. To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor.
To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor. Gregory to Theoctista, &c. With how great devotion my mind prostrates itself before your Venerableness I cannot fully express in words; nor yet do I labour to give utterance to it, since, even though I were silent, you read in your heart your own sense of my devotion. I wonder, however, that you withdrew your countenance, till of late bestowed on me, from this my recent engagement in the pastoral office; wherein, under colour of episcopacy, I have been brought …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

How to Make Use of Christ for Steadfastness, in a Time when Truth is Oppressed and Borne Down.
When enemies are prevailing, and the way of truth is evil spoken of, many faint, and many turn aside, and do not plead for truth, nor stand up for the interest of Christ, in their hour and power of darkness: many are overcome with base fear, and either side with the workers of iniquity, or are not valiant for the truth, but being faint-hearted, turn back. Now the thoughts of this may put some who desire to stand fast, and to own him and his cause in a day of trial, to enquire how they shall make …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The First Galilean Ministry.
The visit to Nazareth was in many respects decisive. It presented by anticipation an epitome of the history of the Christ. He came to His own, and His own received Him not. The first time He taught in the Synagogue, as the first time He taught in the Temple, they cast Him out. On the one and the other occasion, they questioned His authority, and they asked for a sign.' In both instances, the power which they challenged was, indeed, claimed by Christ, but its display, in the manner which they expected, …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Putting God to Work
"For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God beside thee who worketh for him that waiteth for him."--Isaiah 64:4. The assertion voiced in the title given this chapter is but another way of declaring that God has of His own motion placed Himself under the law of prayer, and has obligated Himself to answer the prayers of men. He has ordained prayer as a means whereby He will do things through men as they pray, which He would not otherwise do. Prayer …
Edward M. Bounds—The Weapon of Prayer

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord."--Jeremiah i. 8. The Prophets were ever ungratefully treated by the Israelites, they were resisted, their warnings neglected, their good services forgotten. But there was this difference between the earlier and the later Prophets; the earlier lived and died in honour among their people,--in outward honour; though hated and thwarted by the wicked, they were exalted to high places, and ruled in the congregation. …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

In the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles.
(October, a.d. 29.) ^D John VII. 11-52. ^d 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? [It was now eighteen months since Jesus had visited Jerusalem, at which time he had healed the impotent man at Bethesda. His fame and prolonged obscurity made his enemies anxious for him to again expose himself in their midst. John here used the word "Jews" as a designation for the Jerusalemites, who, as enemies of Christ, were to be distinguished from the multitudes who were in doubt …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Regeneration by Faith. Of Repentance.
1. Connection of this chapter with the previous one and the subsequent chapters. Repentance follows faith, and is produced by it. Reason. Error of those who take a contrary view. 2. Their First Objection. Answer. In what sense the origin of Repentance ascribed to Faith. Cause of the erroneous idea that faith is produced by repentance. Refutation of it. The hypocrisy of Monks and Anabaptists in assigning limits to repentance exposed. 3. A second opinion concerning repentance considered. 4. A third …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

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