then shall your light rise

if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday. (Isaiah 58:10)

Chapter 58 of Isaiah starts with a description of religious activity, fasting, that is far from the heart of God. It is fire without heat. It is empty religious activity, because it is self focused and for show, not from the heart.

The people were making a show of religious activity. They were fasting, regularly. We have this same tendency. Well maybe not for fasting, but for religious activity for sure. We attend a church service regularly, we’re part of a small group, we even read our bible daily. These things can all be good things, but they can also be a show of religious activity without the heart of true religion.

When we do religious things for our own sake, to prove ourselves to others, or even because we think it will please God, but at the same time we treat others with disrespect, not with dignity, thinking ourselves better than others, having a quarreling attitude, even intentionally doing harm to others, God tells us that our “fasting” is in vain.

Fasting like yours this day
will not make your voice to be heard on high. (Isaiah 58:4)

He then says in verse 5 that our show of humility in religious activity is not acceptable to the Lord.

The second half of the chapter then tells us what kind of activity God really wants us to engage in. He desires that we seek justice, bring relief to the oppressed, feed the hungry, and cloth the naked. But what he’s calling us to isn’t easy. It’s more than just volunteering at the soup kitchen once a month. He’s not just calling us to give money to poverty alleviation. He’s calling us to share our lives with our neighbors.

Verse 7 says we should share our bread with the hungry. Does this mean just giving some money to the homeless guy who is begging on the street? Or financially supporting a hunger fund of some kind? I don’t think so. The second half of the verse says we are to

bring the homeless poor into your house

Uh oh, that sounds a little too close for comfort! That’s not just giving a buck to the Salvation Army bell-ringer outside the grocery store. This is getting to know those who are materially poor in our neighborhood, and inviting them into our home for a meal. This has gotten uncomfortable fast!

Then we’re told to relieve people’s burdens, to do away with finger-pointing, accusations, and speaking ill of others. Then comes verse 10, the one quoted at the top of this post. Here we’re told how far this really goes. It means pouring out our lives.

It is much simpler to drop food out of airplanes or to ladle soup out of bowls than it is to develop long-lasting, time-consuming relationships with poor people, which may be emotionally exhausting. (Brian Fikkert – When Helping Hurts)

Ask yourself this, “Do I know any poor people in my town or city?” I mean really know them. Have you shared a meal with them? Have you spent time listening to their story? Do you know their hurts, their dreams, their hopes? Have you poured out your life for them?

When we invest in these kind of relationships, and do the work of restoring brokenness in our own and our neighbors’ lives, then God says he will answer when we call to him. Then God will guide us, make us strong. Then our desire will be for God and we will be satisfied in him.

then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.


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