By: Casey Zachary

Isaiah 58

Real Hope for Haiti’s foundational verse for live and ministry is Isaiah 58:7.

In order to take a deeper look at this verse, I thought it would be helpful to consider the larger context in which it is found, Isaiah chapter 58. As I studied this chapter, I was challenged, like only Scripture can do. I would like to share some observations I found.

It is likely that all believers today have at some point experienced similar frustration to that found in chapter 58, doing everything they can to get God to notice their plight and intervene, but to no avail. Essentially, YHWH uses fasting in this chapter because that was the religious practice being distorted in that day, but one could substitute virtually any spiritual discipline in for fasting. This passage serves to challenge the contemporaries that finds themselves in the same situation as the original audience. When believers feel communication with God is not ideal, they should evaluate the quality of their practices and not simply increase or abandon them.

One minor point that bears mentioning is the poor manner in which the audience treated people on the day of the supposed fast. Not only do they take opportunity to fight, complain, and generally act like fools, but in the day of the fast they also took opportunity to oppress their workers. Granted, this is not a significant point, but it seems there is a lesson to be learned in pursuing God and offering worship. The lesson is that one’s worship should not become a burden to others. Those being addressed in chapter 58 put heavy work upon their workers the very day they were consecrating themselves to their fast. It is highly likely that some of these overworked employees would have wanted to participate in this religious exercise. Christians must be responsible for their actions, management of time, and treatment of others. It is unfair for a husband to check twitter/ FB all day and then neglect his wife in the evening because he needs to pray and read his bible. While there is a right time for seclusion and meditation, practicing worship throughout every day life allows one to remain sensitive to the needs of others and prevents one from becoming consumed with oneself.

There is no confusion as to what false fasting is and what true fasting is in chapter 58. YHWH has no use for anything less than authentic fasting/ worship. Issues of improper understanding of religious practices in regards to worship were not limited to pre and post-exilic Israel. Christians today suffer from this as well because they live in a fallen world. The present pericope of 58:6-12 provides a classic statement of the correct view and the need to link formal worship to an obedient lifestyle or service in God’s name. Showing mercy and charity to the poor as well as working diligently for justice are threads throughout the Torah and the New Testament (Ex. 23:26; Deut. 15:7; 27:19; Matt. 25:35; James 1:27). Sincerity and humility should always be accompanied by actions and not simply words.

Check back next wednesday for more thoughts on Isaiah 58.