Isaiah 58:2. “Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.”
ORDINANCES OF JUSTICE. They made their own ordinances to please the people, More concerned about suitability then fundamental integrity: “Make it easy for them to fulfill their obligations” – “Make them feel comfortable in difficult situations.”
“Fasting is good, God links it together with faith – Make sure everyone knows we believe in what’s good.” “Set a time and a day when there is no work allowed, You can fast out in public to be seen by the crowd.”
But God says it differently, He wants us to fast from sin – Take the burdens of others and carry them yourself. Break the yokes of oppression that have so many bound – Take your bread and feed the hungry wherever they are found.
God says to clothe the naked, many are afraid and cold. Look around you and see is there some urgent need near you – Take what belongs to you and use it to meet the needs of others – The oppressed and burdened, the cold and hungry also are your brothers.
To fast is not an ordinance to make people think a lot of me – It is to be a practice of mine to use what God has given. Then the fast becomes what God intended – an ordinance of justice – That in the end result people will experience what the grace of God is.
“O God of all mankind: may the needs of others never leave me careless or callous toward them and my responsibility to them. To fast without a spiritual reason is probably a form of hypocrisy. Help given to those in need using what has been given to me by Thee is far more important. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”