Lenten Service: “True Fasting” (Isaiah 58)

“True Fasting” (Isaiah 58)

“What Are You Giving Up for Lent?”

Lent is a time of self-denial. “What are you giving up for Lent?” It’s a question we get at this time of the year. Twitter reveals top 100 ideas of 2015. Here is the list of the top 10: First, School. Second, chocolate. Third, Twitter. Fourth, alcohol. Fifth, social networking. Sixth, swearing. Seventh, soda. Eighth, sweets. Ninth, fast food. And tenth, coffee. So what are you giving up for Lent? And why are you giving them up? In his book Story of the Student Christian Movement, Tissington Tatlow says, “Self-denial is not denying to ourselves luxuries such as chocolates, cakes, cigarettes and cocktails (although it might include this); it is actually denying or disowning ourselves, renouncing our supposed right to go our own way.” Actually, this is not a new statement at all. About 2700 years ago the Lord our God said exactly the same thing to the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah. Then, what is the heart of fasting? What is the heart of self-denial? In Isaiah 58 God gives us a clear answer.

Do No Harm

God defines it in three ways. The first step of true fasting is to do no harm. In Isaiah 58:3-5 the Lord says, “But they also complain, 'Why do we fast and you don't look our way? Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?' "Well, here's why: "The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit. You drive your employees much too hard. You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist. The kind of fasting you do won't get your prayers off the ground. Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, GOD, would like?” (MSG) At that time, many people observed the feasts of the Lord and did fast, but at the same time, they kept doing evil things. They did fast, but they kept going their own way. If we truly resolve to do no harm, we can no longer gossip. We can no longer speak ill of others. We can no longer take revenge. True fasting is to do no harm to others. It sounds simple, but it is not an easy rule, because it does demand a radical trust in God’s presence and power. To do no harm is an act of disarming, laying aside our weapons and leaving room for God’s intervention.

Do Good

The second step of true fasting is to do good. In vv. 6-9 the Lord says, "This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The GOD of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, GOD will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.' To do good sounds simple. But what doest it mean by that? Where do we begin? Doing good is not limited to those like us or those who like us. Doing good is directed at “everyone,” even those who do not fit our category of “worthy” to receive any good. For those who cut in ahead of us in traffic, and even for those who consider us less than a child of God, still we must commit ourselves to seeking good for everyone in every circumstance. That is what it means to do good. 

Stay in God’s Love

The third step of true fasting is to stay in love with God. God concludes in vv. 13-14.  "If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, GOD's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,' making money, running here and there-Then you'll be free to enjoy GOD! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob." Yes! GOD says so!” The Israelites did fast, but they broke the Sabbath. God made the Sabbath holy. It was the day of resting in order to worship and have fellowship with God. But the people broke the Sabbath. On that day they did fast, but they did whatever they wanted. They did fast, but they went their own way. They did fast, but they sought their own pleasure. God says to them, “No, that’s not the heart of fasting. Come back to me and stay in my love.”

“Not My Will, But Your Will Be Done!”

Giving up chocolate and coffee can be a good spiritual discipline for self-denial. But our fasting should be more than that. So today I would like to exhort you to try this little exercise. Every time you give up something, chocolate or coffee or anything, pray this short prayer, “Not my will, but your will be done! Not my way, but your way, Lord!” “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Mc 6:8, NIV) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God always! Amen.