Lent: The Lord will say, here am I!

 

Read Isaiah 58: 1 – 12.

When you cry for help, the Lord will say: Here am I!

When Israel returned to Jerusalem (after their exile) they seem to have believed that they were doing all the right things. Yet they did not see the blessings promised in the law of God for those who keep the periodic fast days and prayer times as prescribed in the Torah.

 

Isaiah 58: 2 – 4: Day after day they seek me (God) out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, and you (God) have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do and expect your voice to be heard on high.

 

They are confused. They thought that keeping days of commemoration and fasting is enough to please God. It must have been a shock to hear the prophet's strong reprimand of what they considered to be acts of faith. How could God not be pleased with them?

 

The prophet cuts short their claims to godliness by calling for new values and day to day living to accompany their prayers and sacrifices: to loosen the bonds of injustice, to share what we have with those who have not, to live in peace with family and neighbours and to help the afflicted. These are not periodic actions like the official days of fasting and sacrifice. This is consistent godly living that will reform their relationship with other people and most importantly, with God.

 

The fasting acceptable to God is a daily fast from violence, intimidation and abuse, from filthy language and from selfishness and from ungratefulness for God’s blessings.

 

People that daily walk with God and seek to do his will, shall see God’s response to their fasting and prayer. They will have the blessings of guidance, healing, help, protection, provision of their needs and the presence and guidance of God among them.

 

God’s people cannot expect to be blessed if their prayers and their fasts, their worship and their sacrifices are disconnected from the way they live the rest of their everyday lives. God wants much more than observing the ceremony and customs of worship. No, the Lord invites us to be his partners in achieving justice, holiness and compassion for all people. God never stops calling us into his own ministry to the people who need him so much.

 

All these amazing things are only possible because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, redeemed and made it possible for us to be forgiven, granting us the gifts of faith, hope and love by his Holy Spirit.

 

And when we live in this partnering relationship with God that results in a restored nation and communities, we have an amazing promise from our Lord:

Isaiah 58: 9:“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and the Lord will say: Here am I.