His Fast

Isaiah 58

is one of my favorite passages.

It thrills me.

It gets me all excited to stand up on my “social gospel” soap box and explain why there is no social gospel.

Why God is, and always has been a God of Justice who desires true Shalom, wholeness, for his creation.

It is all part of one gospel

.

It challenges me.

Am I participating in God’s chosen fast?

Do I share my food?

Is anyone free because of my actions? Have I untied any unjust cords lately or done away with some oppressive yokes?

Have I ever truly spent myself on behalf of anything let alone the hungry?

But then I pause before I start making my list of to do’s, which is my type A tendency.

It’s my wheelhouse and while I may never truly accomplish all I see here that God has placed before me I am comfortable being given tasks and setting out to achieve them.

I look at those verses within this passage I have sort of skipped or skimmed at the very least and I see the promises.

They are sprinkled throughout the chapter and they include some straightforward statements and also some beautiful imagery.

God promises that if Israel fasts His chosen fast then …

They will be healed quickly, He will be their rear guard, He will answer their calls, He will guide them and meet their needs.

It also says …

Your light will break forth like the dawn; and your righteousness will go before you

Your light will rise on the darkness and your night will become like noonday and

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruinsand will raise up the age-old foundations;you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,Restorer of Streets with Dwellings

Then you will find your joy in the Lord!

It strikes me that all of these promises are a restoration as is the chosen fast.God calls Israel, calls us, to restore creation to wholeness as he intended it and he promises to restore as well.He promises healing of our brokenness, protection and guidance.He promises not only light for us but that our light will break forth like dawn and our righteousness will go before us.Through him we will have both light and righteousness.That is promise I want to grab hold of!