Last week we look at Isaiah 58 and the meaning of praying and fasting:
Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:6-8
It is explained in Isaiah 58 of the fast God was requiring of the Israelites. It was not the ritual of fasting that was a concern, but the attitude behind the fasting. The Israelites felt that because of their fasting, it should equate to righteousness. But at the same time, their fasting held no weight due to the fact they remained in their sin during and after the fast. Our works alone cannot make us righteous or equate to salvation in God.
What is your attitude like behind your fasting and praying? Are you fasting to make yourself look more righteous? Are fasting and praying to brag to others that we fast and pray? We only fulfill one side of fasting and praying by getting ourselves together in God, but the other requirement of fasting and praying remains unfulfilled. In Isaiah 58, God gives Israel the requisites of fasting: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh. It is not to us but for us to help others. We fast to help build up the church. We fast to help others to be set free. We fast to help the poor and feed the hungry.
So the next time you are led on a fast, remember that we are not fasting for only personal benefit or gain but we are fasting and praying to help others. There is beauty in the struggle to see others set free.
