God Promises Light

January 22, 2023 Background Scripture: Isaiah 58: 1 - 14 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 58:6 - 10 As I meditated on the Background Scripture, I thought about the many occasions of seeing inappropriate "theme scriptures" used for annual days at some local churches. It appeared someone searched for a biblical verse that used words that seemed to match the occasion of the annual day. Yet, there was no apparent attempt to match the context of that verse with that annual day. In other words, the specific scripture chosen communicated something biblically that had absolutely nothing to do with the occasion for which the scripture was being used. Sometimes we are tempted to take God's words and use them for our own purposes—despite what God communicated with those words. God said what He said, and God meant what He said. God has not given us the privilege to reinterpret what He has communicated! That is why it is important to carefully consider whatever God said, who He said it to, the context in which He said it, and to whom He directs its application. To not do this is to open ourselves up to disappointment. God taught Israel to fast and pray as a means of afflicting their souls, humbling themselves before Him, and living righteously. Under those conditions, God responded to whatever they prayed about to Him, Fasting was much more involved than not eating for a span of time. Over time, people of God, including today, have tended to abuse fasting. Fasting is a method whereby a person afflicts their soul to earnestly seek God's face. Fasting is not to be used to get God to seek us. God promises to allow His presence to be sensed more by a person who sincerely fasts. God promises to be attentive to the prayers of those who fast according to His guidelines. Proper fasting affects the internal holiness of the person, and it is not an outward display of piety. In the Background Scripture, God spoke through the prophet words of chastisement to His people, They were fasting as an outward show of religion and not with an internal change of heart. In essence, they were not eating and continued to behave in a very unholy manner. Then, they wondered why God was not responding to them. They were not eating, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes and waiting on God to answer their prayers. And God's question to them was, "Would you call this a fast?" God leveled some heavy accusations against them. While they were pretending to fast, they were enjoying themselves, mistreating people, arguing, and fighting. There were hungry people around them not being fed. There were naked, or poorly dressed, people around them not being attended to. There were homeless people not being provided shelter. God was saying to His People: If you're not going to do My business while you afflict your souls and fast, then you might as well eat! God would not respond to any requests they made of Him while not eating and purposely living unholy lives. On the other hand, God gave them an option. If they would fast according to His directions: not eating, afflicting their souls, and doing His business by relieving the poor of their burdens, then their light would shine brightly. God would respond to their prayers quickly. Their righteousness before Him would be obvious to others. His glow would be their protection. As they humbled themselves through fasting and prayer before God, He would elevate them in the world. Then they would receive all the blessings God promised their forefathers. Proper fasting would cause their light to shine, Robert C. Hudson January 12, 2023