The kind of fast God chooses – Isa_58:3-12
The True Fast
► Not for selfish reasons – Isa 58:3;
► Not for strife – Isa 58:4;
► To humble yourself – Isa 58:5;
► To loosen bonds of wickedness and oppression – Isa 58:6;
► To divide bread with the hungry and homeless – Isa 58:7, 10;
► Removing legalism and grumbling – Isa 58:9;
God’s Results
► Light will shine forth – Isa 58:8;
► God will protect us – Isa 58:8;
► God will answer your prayers – Isa 58:9;
► Your light will rise out of the gloom and darkness – Isa 58:10;
► God will continually guide you – Isa 58:11;
► God will satisfy your desires – Isa 58:11;
► God will strengthen you – Isa 58:11;
► You will be like a watered garden – Isa 58:11;
► You will rebuild ancient ruins – Isa 58:12;
► You will be called the repairer of the breach – Isa 58:12;
► You will be called the restorer of the streets – Isa 58:12;
see also … God’s Chosen Sabbath
3‘Why have we fasted and You do not see?
Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’
Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire,
And drive hard all your workers.
4“Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist.
You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.
5“Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed
And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed?
Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD?
6“Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?
7“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8“Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
10And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
11“And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
12“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.
Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’
Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire,
And drive hard all your workers.
4“Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist.
You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.
5“Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed
And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed?
Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD?
6“Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?
7“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8“Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
10And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
11“And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
12“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.
The True Fast
► Not for selfish reasons – Isa 58:3;
► Not for strife – Isa 58:4;
► To humble yourself – Isa 58:5;
► To loosen bonds of wickedness and oppression – Isa 58:6;
► To divide bread with the hungry and homeless – Isa 58:7, 10;
► Removing legalism and grumbling – Isa 58:9;
God’s Results
► Light will shine forth – Isa 58:8;
► God will protect us – Isa 58:8;
► God will answer your prayers – Isa 58:9;
► Your light will rise out of the gloom and darkness – Isa 58:10;
► God will continually guide you – Isa 58:11;
► God will satisfy your desires – Isa 58:11;
► God will strengthen you – Isa 58:11;
► You will be like a watered garden – Isa 58:11;
► You will rebuild ancient ruins – Isa 58:12;
► You will be called the repairer of the breach – Isa 58:12;
► You will be called the restorer of the streets – Isa 58:12;
see also … God’s Chosen Sabbath