Isaiah
58 reminds me of the old wrestling days. In an effort to “make
weight” we would frequently go without eating or drinking for hours
or days. We were able to get the needle of the scale to show what we
needed, but in the long run, we became worn down and fatigued. In
today’s chapter, Isaiah describes the act of worship called
fasting, but he scolds the worshipper, because they are not focused
on honoring God. He begins, “Shout
it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to My people their
rebellion“. Isaiah’s
mission was to lead the Jewish people back to faith in the Holy God
of Israel. God explains that like many today, “they
seek Me out; they seem eager to know My ways“,
but they have “forsaken the
commands… of… God“. God
notes, “They ask Me for just
decisions and seem
eager for
God to come near them“. The
people point to their own self-sacrifice, “Why
have we fasted… You
have not seen it? You
have not noticed“. They are
saying, Look God, I am doing a lot for You and You don’t even see
it. This is the problem with many “religious” people. They
perform acts of self-denial, or service in order to tip the scale to
the “good”. Friend, if we could sweat out sin by our own efforts,
we would not need a Savior. Galatians 2:21 says, “If
righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for
nothing!“.
Isaiah
continues his observation by pointing out what others see. They fast,
yet it does not make them humble, it makes them grumpy. “You
do as you please and exploit all your workers… quarreling and
strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists… and expect
your voice to be heard on high… Is that what you call a fast?”
How about you? Do you do your religious service with grumbling and
complaining? Not only does God look at our heart’s motivation, but
the people around us look to see if our actions match our words.
Isaiah says we are to “untie
the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free“.
Galatians 3:2 asks an important question. “Did
you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what
you heard?“
Isaiah
closes by describing what people do notice. “Share
your food with the hungry…
clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood…
Then your light will break forth like the dawn… your righteousness
will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear
guard“. Something interesting
happens when you act out of love rather than act religious, “Then
you will call, and the LORD will answer“.
Isaiah notes that religious obligations cause us to look down on
others, “with the pointing
finger and malicious talk“.
Here is my motivation; I have experienced God’s mercy and
forgiveness. I believe God’s Word, and I have experienced His
fellowship and I want you to also. Isaiah concludes, “Then
your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like
the noonday. The LORD will guide you always… you will be called
Repairer of Broken Walls“.
Remember Jacob wrestled with God to receive a blessing, and God
changed his name, “Your name
will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with
God and with humans and have overcome”
(Genesis 32:28). Stop trying to make some religious weight class and
start living to build up others, and you too can finish strong. “Call
the Sabbath a delight… you
will find your joy in the LORD, and I will
cause you to
ride in triumph“.