The Fast
6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. (Isaiah 58:6-12)
Fast can mean to move swiftly, and it can mean to abstain from something. Interestingly, we tend to also strive to slow down and be more contemplative when we are fasting. The setting aside time for introspection and for listening for and to God is often more of a challenge than the abstinence. But in our Isaiah passage, God is calling God's people to a different type of fast - fasting from personal and corporate injustice. The prophet expresses God's desire that those who call on God needing and expecting justice and relief from their oppression, also refrain from oppressing others and cease their own unjust practices. This is more substantive than the bibbidy bobbidy boo faith that we might imagine that we'd prefer.
God does not endeavor to grant our wishes like a genie, but to mold our hearts and minds in accordance with the character of God - and that means holding ourselves, and the systems we both create and participate in, accountable to God's desire for just-ness and equity. The realization that the justice we want for ourselves is only valid when there is justice for all should move us to champion the powerless - ensuring that the scales are not tipped in anyone's favor, but are balanced so that all have enough. If we are not the remedy we are the dis-ease.
How do we even begin to untie the bonds of oppression and injustice when they are the foundation that our society and culture have been built upon? One personal encounter at a time. One purchase at a time. One vote at a time. As we journey through this season of confession and repentance, may we be open to the ways God desires us to fast - that God's kingdom may come and God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven.
To the glory of God.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. 5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. 6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:1-12)
