Isaiah 58:6-12
6 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?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
9a Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.
Verses 6 tells us the right motivations of a fast and the Lord’s desired goal of that fast done in his will. To free us from sin, to lift heavy burdens (often times not placed upon us by the Lord but by others), let the oppressed go free (are you being oppressed by insecurities or others opinions of you?), and to break all those “yokes” that we have allowed ourselves to be attached to unequally.
Verse 7 tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
THEN…
In verse 8 to 9a, God promises wonderful things! Our light, the light of the gospel shining through us, shall break forth as morning! We will be healed. People will notice something is different in us. The glory of the Lord will be our protection. We will call out to him and have favor with him, he will listen to us.
Getting our lives in line with his will is his goal for us. The end result is to cause us to cry out to him and he will answer with blessing and favor.
