Reading in Isaiah 56-58.
God again speaks to the people of Israel about a future hope. How He will restore them to the land.
But He addresses their worship.
They can’t understand why God is not paying attention to their acts of worship.
Isaiah 58:2-3
For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
The people are like we are coming to you, God. We are fasting and keeping the Sabbath. But did you notice? Are you seeing how religious we are?
But are they?
Isaiah 58:3b-5
Yet, on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
Instead of focusing on God and what His heart desires, we are focused on ourselves and what we want.
God had a different idea of worship in mind:
Isaiah 58:6-7
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
God wanted worship that sacrificed our desires and our wants for the needs of others. That our hearts would be surrendered to God’s heart, and we would be more like Him.
We think there is some reward for doing the ritual of “worship.”
God seems more interested in our hearts towards those He loves. He wants us to be His hands to love, serve, and care for those around us. This is true worship.
Are we asking the question: “Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
If we want God’s attention, we must care about what is on His heart. It seems clear that He cares for the needs of others. He wants us to put their needs over ours.
He says that if Israel worships like this, He will take care of them.
God does not change. God delights in those who do what is right. Who are not seeking their own advantage. Who put others first. And care for those around them.
May we worship God from our hearts. May we reflect His heart in our actions.
