HOW TO FAST TO PLEASE GOD ISAIAH 58
First of all, let me begin with how we are to fast: Matthew 6: 1: Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven.
When I had become a nurse, I practiced nursing. I did not perfect it, as the profession is fluid; it is ever changing. When we receive salvation, we are made "right" in the eyes of God; we are righteous. Being in His Family, we should be ever learning, ever seeking. We will only perfect our status when we see Him; until then, we will "practice" our righteousness; always striving to be more like Jesus.
The various types of fasting are listed on the "Definition of Fasting" post on this blog.
The answer as to why we are to fast is found in Isaiah 58: 4d: "to make your voice heard on high." We do it so that when we call, "the Lord will answer; we shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'" Isaiah 58:9 (NKJV)
God is not impressed with "...only a day to show off humility..To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black..Isaiah 58:5 (MSG) What God says here is that it may be good to fast for a day when we want God to hear us but putting on a show for a day does not impress Him. In fact, He says that "kind of fasting ...won't get your prayers off the ground." Isaiah 58:4 (MSG)
God wants us to live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to Him. He wants obedience over sacrifice. I Samuel 15: 22. The fasting, as I understand it, is a bonus for God. When our hearts are heavy and we are earnestly seeking His help with an issue, we fast. As long as our lives are pleasing to God, He will hear us.
Here is the kind of fast day God says will please Him:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke
...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 Isaiah 58: 6 - 8 (NKJV)
"If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
If you extend your soul to the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted soul Isaiah 58: 9, 10 (NKJV)
"If you turn away your foot from The Sabbath,
from doing your pleasure on My Holy Day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
and the Holy Day of The Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
nor finding your own pleasure,
nor speaking your own words Isaiah 58: 13 (NKJV)
When Jesus came, He said He did not come to abolish The Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets, but to to accomplish their purpose. Matthew 5: 17 (NLT) Therefore, we are to obey *The Commandments (The Law of Moses), which includes "Keeping The Sabbath".
* The Old Covenant with the rituals, sacrifices, building of The Temple, etc. were void when Jesus' coming fulfilled them. It is generally accepted that even though we no longer live under the law, we are still expected to live by the law. i.e., we are forgiven and set free from sin but we chose to be a slave to Jesus and be obedient. There can be no obedience if there are no rules, right?
You are encouraged to leave a comment with your thoughts. I did not have my commentaries to refer to, so comments would be helpful for everybody. update: I bought Dr. Ironside's commentary.
You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.
When I had become a nurse, I practiced nursing. I did not perfect it, as the profession is fluid; it is ever changing. When we receive salvation, we are made "right" in the eyes of God; we are righteous. Being in His Family, we should be ever learning, ever seeking. We will only perfect our status when we see Him; until then, we will "practice" our righteousness; always striving to be more like Jesus.
The various types of fasting are listed on the "Definition of Fasting" post on this blog.
The answer as to why we are to fast is found in Isaiah 58: 4d: "to make your voice heard on high." We do it so that when we call, "the Lord will answer; we shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'" Isaiah 58:9 (NKJV)
God is not impressed with "...only a day to show off humility..To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black..Isaiah 58:5 (MSG) What God says here is that it may be good to fast for a day when we want God to hear us but putting on a show for a day does not impress Him. In fact, He says that "kind of fasting ...won't get your prayers off the ground." Isaiah 58:4 (MSG)
God wants us to live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to Him. He wants obedience over sacrifice. I Samuel 15: 22. The fasting, as I understand it, is a bonus for God. When our hearts are heavy and we are earnestly seeking His help with an issue, we fast. As long as our lives are pleasing to God, He will hear us.
Here is the kind of fast day God says will please Him:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke
...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 Isaiah 58: 6 - 8 (NKJV)
"If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
If you extend your soul to the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted soul Isaiah 58: 9, 10 (NKJV)
"If you turn away your foot from The Sabbath,
from doing your pleasure on My Holy Day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
and the Holy Day of The Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
nor finding your own pleasure,
nor speaking your own words Isaiah 58: 13 (NKJV)
When Jesus came, He said He did not come to abolish The Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets, but to to accomplish their purpose. Matthew 5: 17 (NLT) Therefore, we are to obey *The Commandments (The Law of Moses), which includes "Keeping The Sabbath".
* The Old Covenant with the rituals, sacrifices, building of The Temple, etc. were void when Jesus' coming fulfilled them. It is generally accepted that even though we no longer live under the law, we are still expected to live by the law. i.e., we are forgiven and set free from sin but we chose to be a slave to Jesus and be obedient. There can be no obedience if there are no rules, right?
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 58
referencing DR. H. A. Ironside Commentary
God set aside certain times of the calendar for fasting. Man decided to add to what God required and to make a big show of it to impress all those who saw them acting religious. That is not at all what He wants from us. He wants us to recognize the importance of self-judgment. His fasts gives us opportunity to come before Him and to meditate upon His dealings with Israel and with us, personally. He wants us to practice His compassion toward others, which includes forgiving quickly and not keeping an ledger of transgressions against ourselves. During this dispensation of Grace, we are to guide and help those who are seeking understanding with utmost patience, rather than judgment.
God is "Lord of the Sabbath", so we should remember the Sabbath and keep it holy: worshiping Him, helping those in trouble, relieving the afflicted as much as we are able. We are not to turn away our family members, especially if they are in need. It seems the easiest to do since we know all of their warts. They don't live like we want them to. They did such and such to us years ago and we hold that against them. Yes, family is the easiest to judge. But God wants us to go and administer to them, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. After all, He is the One Who gave them to us! can I get an amen? We should help those in need, even if it means taking all we have to do it.
You are encouraged to leave a comment with your thoughts. I did not have my commentaries to refer to, so comments would be helpful for everybody. update: I bought Dr. Ironside's commentary.
You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.
on this day of fasting and prayer, we must repent of our sins: drug and alcohol abuse, greed, sexual sins: pedophilia, adultery, homosexuality, etc., worshiping self, killing pre-born babies. let us confess our sins and ask Gd's help in turning from them. He is just to forgive a contrite heart
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