Shout your sins out loud! Let me proclaim your secret things in the streets!!
Uh….what?
“Cry out loudly, don’t hold back! Raise your voice like a trumpet. Tell My people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins” (v. 1).
The people of Israel are asking, ‘Why do we fast and pray and you don’t hear and respond?’
The Lord tells them plainly that the way they are fasting is not a true fast. Why? Because when they fast, they just fight with words and fists, they care nothing for the poor and needy, they ignore caring for their family, they do evil and oppress people.
It’s kind of like having a boyfriend who brings his lady flowers, but on the side you know he is seeing other girlfriends and she knows it. Add to that when he brings her flowers and throws them in her lap, tells her she is ugly, trashes her house and doesn’t pick up after himself and more. And then wonders why she isn’t happy with the flowers?
Fasting is not just a religious practice, but there’s relationship behind it. It’s not just a day to go around without food, to sulk about and gain the pity of men. It’s the day to reconnect with God and to life the chains of oppression, not add to them (v. 6-9).
“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 them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Fasting is about interceding for situations where there is brokenness and need. That could mean praying but also could mean serving. It could mean giving the money you would have spent on food and giving it to those in need.
But fasting first and foremost is not about yourself. It’s not about self-abasement. It’s about reconnecting with God in the service and assistance of those in need. For those who understand this, there is great blessing:
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
Those are some powerful words. So let’s talk fasting for us.
I’ve been part of a group where fasting was something everyone was expected to do once a week. People would gather together in prayer over lunch. And as soon as that one hour was over, everyone would run to eat. I’m not sure if this is a fast or a religious practice.
I’ve tried to fast before. Not for a particular need or reason, but just to fast for fasting’s sake. It’s not a bad thing, but I wonder now if it was more for being “religious.” If I’m not fasting to draw nearer to God and serve those in need, then perhaps too I am just practicing self-abasement and not truly fasting.
The season I’m now is one that fasting would not be good for my health. So I need to find other ways to fast. Other things to abstain from. But I do believe that fasting for those with appropriate health is truly a fast from food. That’s actually we call the first meal after a long sleep “break-fast.”
There is also I believe greater need for fasting and prayer than ever before. The world is bleeding all over the place. We need the fast that intercedes for God’s help, we need the fast that intercedes and acts on those that are in need, and need to fast and pray for God to stop the evil that is exploding.
Having said that I ask myself, when was the last time I fasted? I can’t even remember. Even just a modified fast because of my health. Although I do remember fasting YouTube a couple of years ago for a week. Afterwards I was a worse addict.
So maybe I will pray about next week fasting the computer/devices. With the exception of blogging the Scripture (important to me), texting as that is my primary means of communicating and phone calls. But will see. I need to pray about it. I need to ask what are my motives? Will get back to you on this. Stay tuned.