Not So Fast

Is 58:1-7

John F. Schmidt

11/23/02

Fasting, as we commonly conceive it, has very little connection with the average American Christian’s life. And very little place in my life either. That is not something to be proud of, but we must face the truth before God can change us.

Ask the Jews of Isaiah’s day what a fast was and they would have replied is it “a day for a man to afflict his soul; a day to bow down one’s head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under oneself.” It was what we commonly think of as fasting. Yet they fasted for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness. In other words, their whole purpose was based on self-aggrandizement. They didn’t afflict their souls to learn anything of God, but to build themselves up against one another. To acquire position and power was their sole purpose.

All the while, others languished in their midst, poor and needy, bound and helpless. God was not pleased with their version of a fast. He told them what He wanted. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”

God sees not as man sees, for God sees the heart. And what he saw was selfish wickedness in those who named His name. Should we not also take to heart the things He says are a real fast?

It must be a fast He has chosen. How often do we concern ourselves with what God wants, rather we approach Him with our own agenda of selfish requests, never stopping to ask Him what is on His heart. His heart is that of the Lord Jesus, who “made Himself of no reputation, but took on himself the form of a servant… became obedient unto death.” His heart is echoed in Paul’s when he said “he would very gladly spend and be spent for you…” His is the heart of compassion to those who are beaten half to death by events in their lives – sometimes asked for, and sometimes coming upon them unbidden. When we give Him the opportunity – by asking Him and waiting for Him to answer in His own way and in His own time – He will surely show our hearts what He has chosen for our fast.

It may be a fast to loose the bands of wickedness. There is so much we might address in the wickedness all around us. It is even in our own hearts. We can ask the Lord to “search me and know me and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me to life everlasting.” Or we may observe wickedness reigning over the life of another. It may be that wickedness holds sway in the form of wicked rulers. We may appeal to the “Judge of the whole earth” for redress. He will respond, for “He loves righteousness.” Or we may find some oppressing others. Again, we may intercede in material ways, and also to bring the plight of the oppressed to the Father of all, who is the God “who heareth prayer,” “unto whom all flesh shall come.” Or lastly, we might intercede with the One who has His foot on the Serpent’s head, and force him to release his prisoners. For His Son, Jesus, is destroying the works of the Devil, and desires that we enlist with Him in that great work.

He may call us to a fast that will undo heavy burdens. There is an equality intended by our Heavenly Father. Not that you ought to be burdened and I unburdened, but that my supply might provide for your want, and in time, another’s supply provide for my want, that there be no unmet needs. Burdens come in as many hues as a rainbow. Have we asked Him to show us burdens that He has uniquely equipped us to undo for another? We all lack personal wisdom to provide for ourselves, much less for the needs of others. Have we asked Him, in the quiet of our time with Him? Many carry burdens that are heavy. Are we willing to let Him share them with us? There are brokenhearted souls all around us, but we so seldom stop to consider them in the light of His compassion.

Are we willing to enlist to let the oppressed go free? There are those oppressed of the Devil, and there are those oppressed of men. There is a slavery to another: or being in the grip of drugs, or lusts, or greed, or the desire to be someone. It may be economic slavery or under bondage to another’s will. The result is the same: slavery and oppression. The enemy of our souls will torment those who are oppressed. Will we volunteer to ask the Lord to free them? Will we speak out for the oppressed? Will we intercede for them and place ourselves even in danger for their sakes?

Shall we not have a heart like His, and desire to break every yoke? Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty - wonderful liberty to walk free and unhindered by any wicked desire or oppression – free to love Him and worship Him and serve Him. The yoke of wickedness would bind us in Hell forever, and also while we dwell on Earth. We should never tolerate a yoke in our lives, for Jesus breaks every yoke if we call out to him from our hearts. And more wonderfully still is the truth that Jesus will break the yokes in others’ lives if we will intercede with God for them. Don’t we all need others to care for us? Don’t others need our care for them? That is God’s true fast.

Lastly, the fast of God is to love others who God created by dealing our bread to the hungry, and to bring the poor that are homeless to our houses, and when we see the naked, we cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Here we tread on ground that has seldom seen a footprint. Does God expect us to invite the unwashed into our homes, and feed them and clothe them? Don’t we need everything we have – and more – for our own needs? Not if the God who clothed us abundantly can also multiply our gifts and our giving so that instead of a few small loaves and fishes, we have enough to feed a multitude – and twelve baskets of fragments left over.

Dear brother or sister, isn’t God calling us to open our hands and our hearts to others? Are we not being asked to “let this mind which was in Christ be also in you?” If He indeed is our resource, and He has promised to supply our every need, then how will he not provide for needs that occur in the process of observing a fast He has called for?

One last poignant reminder from the One whose heart is Compassion: don’t forget those of your own flesh. There were those in Jesus’ day that thought they were free of family obligations because they gave big gifts to the temple. They called the practice “Corban.” The corrupt religious leaders loved it because they lined their pockets on the money that should have gone to support family members of their doners. That is an abomination to God to empty the scriptures of meaning in order to keep our human traditions.

That is what our fasting can become when we do it for self, rather than for others in the love of God. He “fasted” for us – all the way to the cross. Let’s do the same.