Lent Week 4: Heart in Hand (Isaiah 58:7-8)
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,
and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will appear like the dawn,
and your recovery will come quickly.
Your righteousness will go before you,
and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:7-8
Emotions of Fasting
We are coming into the fourth week of Lent, and if you are fasting something, you might be feeling a wide range of emotions. One of them could be that you are putting in all the work and even God is not paying attention.
Maybe you are leaning in and bad stuff keeps happening, you don’t see an answer to your prayer, or you feel worse than you did before. Maybe you are tired or frustrated. You aren’t the first one to feel this way.
Have you not seen?
Isaiah 58:3a reveals the emotions of the people of Israel as they cried out to the Lord:
“Why have we fasted, but you have not seen?
We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed!”
Want to hear what God’s response is?
“Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast,
and oppress all your workers.
You fast with contention and strife
to strike viciously with your fist.
You cannot fast as you do today,
hoping to make your voice heard on high.
Will the fast I choose be like this:
A day for a person to deny himself,
to bow his head like a reed,
and to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast
and a day acceptable to the Lord?” Isaiah 58:3b-5
The Lord is focused not on the fasting and sacrifice of the Israelite people, but on their behavior in daily life. He was attentive to how they treated the other people around them. They were contentious, sowing strife and striking out viciously.
Last week, we reflected on how we are not supposed to mope and look gloomy while fasting to get other people’s attention and praise. This week, we learn that we can’t mistreat others and expect our fasting to bring any heavenly benefit.
What pleases God
However, God doesn’t just leave us with what displeases Him. He also sets expectations for what a fasting season should be:
“Isn’t this the fast I choose:
To break the chains of wickedness,
to untie the ropes of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free,
and to tear off every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,
and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will appear like the dawn,
and your recovery will come quickly.
Your righteousness will go before you,
and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 58:6-8
Break the chains of wickedness. Set the oppressed free. Share your bread with the hungry. Clothe the naked. Love your neighbor. Care for your family. Extend your hand and heart to those around you.
Giving of ourselves
All of His expectations are about how we treat the people in our lives. One of the pillars of Lent is alms-giving, which means giving to the poor. I believe that the root of this practice is found right here in Isaiah 58. God’s desire is for His people to care for all people, bringing them into freedom and helping them when they are in need.
God’s Promises
If we are fasting and reading and praying, but we ignore those in need around us, all our work is for nothing. However, if we fast and care for those in our lives, God promises some pretty amazing things.
“Then your light will appear like the dawn,
and your recovery will come quickly.
Your righteousness will go before you,
and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 58:8
Hearts in our Hands – Extended to Others
Light and recovery, righteousness, and the Lord’s glory – I don’t know about you, but I want those things in my life. While we are fasting and praying, let’s not forget to reach out our hands to help others and extend our hearts to show love to our family, neighbors, friends, and coworkers. Let’s put our hearts in our hands and give love in practical ways!
Lent Week 4 Action Step:
Think of one thing you can do today to show that you care for someone in your life. One way (big or small) to reach out and share God’s love. Then, don’t just think about it. Do it as soon as possible!
Share your thoughts in the comments on this post or under the Lent Week 4 post at www.facebook.com/devoinaction – we’d love to hear what you think and see pics of your Bible journaling!
Lent Week 4 Prayer:
Dear God, we want to please You during this season of Lent and afterwards. Show us how to share Your love in concrete and practical ways with those around us. Shine through us to bring Your light to our corner of the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
If you want to see other posts in this series, click here for the series overview page: https://www.devotioninaction.com/lent-journey-to-jesus/
For access to the free printables to use in Bible art journaling, click here: https://www.devotioninaction.com/resourcelibrary/
If you don’t have access yet to the Resource Library, find out how to get free access HERE!