False Fasting

In Isaiah 58, we read an interesting little text speaking about fasting. The text begins with people crying to God “Why have we fasted and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?" I don’t know about you but there is a part of me that can totally relate to this text. Why is it that I feel as if God “owes me” when I am spiritual? When I sin against God, I am glad to tell him that I do not desire to be judged by my own righteousness, but by his alone. However, when I am spiritual, for some reason I do want to be judged by my works (go figure), and want God to take notice. In many of these cases, I feel I am owed his love, owed his acknowledgment, and owed his blessings. The fact is, I’ve gotten it all backwards. My prayer here reflects that of the Pharisee in Luke 18:11-12 “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” Thus, clearly I do not want to be justified by my own abilities and accomplishments, especially since there are more negatives in my life than positives.

However, this is what strikes me as interesting. God responds to these “holy men” and their “holy prayers” by saying, “On the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 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. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD ?” I wish I had a sound effect of a big “BOOM” right here! What a slam in my face! It is almost as if God is saying, “Ok Chris, so you fasted a time or two? Big deal! When you fast, you control the details. You say when you will start and when you will end. By the way, don’t you think I know all of those times you intended to fast and didn’t or stopped hours early for a meal? And what is with this moodiness anyway? You act ‘put out’ and ‘upset’ at the end of the day because you have given up a meal. Get over yourself buddy! Do you really think it pleases me that ‘every once in a while’ you skip lunch for a moment of humility?” Like I said, it hit me right between the eyes.

Now, listen to the rest of Isaiah 58. "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? 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?” Wow. There is the answer. Fasting in my life has looked so much like that of these sinful worshipers, when it should be so much more like God speaks of here. This text just blew me away and I felt the need to share it with you.