A Fast for Waters That Do Not Fail, Part 2

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-	{{info|Ein Fasten für Wasser, das nicht versiegt - Teil 2}}<br>	+	{{info}}<blockquote>'''Isaiah 58:1-12''' </blockquote><blockquote>1 Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression, And to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek Me day by day, and delight to know My ways, As a nation that has done Thou righteousness, And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God. 3 'Why have we fasted and Thou dost not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and Thou dost not notice?' Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, And drive hard all your workers. 4 Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. 5 Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one's head like a reed, And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? 6 Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free, And break every yoke? 7 Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 And if you give yourself to the hungry, And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness, And your gloom will become like midday. 11 And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. 12 And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell. </blockquote>
		+	<br>'''Introduction and Review'''
-	== '''Ein Fasten für Wasser, das nicht versiegt 2''' ==	+	What we saw last week from verses 1–5 was that how you treat people on Monday is the test of the authenticity of your fasting on Sunday. They cry out to God in verse 3, "Why have we fasted and Thou dost not see?" And God answers at the end of the verse, "Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers." And God asks in verse 5, "Is it a fast like this which I choose?" Meaning: such a fast is unacceptable. God even makes sport of such a fasting when he says in verse 5, "Is it for bowing one's head like a reed?" The gestures of this self-inflicted religion are no more spiritual than a bent reed in the swamp.
-	'''Jesaja 58:1-12 '''<br>''Rufe getrost, halte nicht an dich! Erhebe deine Stimme wie eine Posaune und verkündige meinem Volk seine Abtrünnigkeit und dem Hause Jakob seine Sünden! Sie suchen mich täglich und begehren meine Wege zu wissen, als wären sie ein Volk, das die Gerechtigkeit schon getan und das Recht seines Gottes nicht verlassen hätte. Sie fordern von mir Recht, sie begehren, dass Gott sich nahe.&nbsp;»Warum fasten wir und du siehst es nicht an? Warum kasteien wir unseren Leib und du willst's nicht wissen?«''	+	Why is this fasting unacceptable to God? What's wrong with it? What's wrong with it is that it left the sin in their lives untouched. The only authentic fasting is fasting that includes a spiritual attack against our own sin. Whatever else we fast for, we must fast for our own holiness. We cannot fast for ''anything ''with authenticity while living in known sin. The only authentic praying is praying that includes an attack against our own sin. The only authentic worship is worship that includes at least an implicit attack against our own sin.
-	''Siehe, an dem Tag, da ihr fastet, geht ihr doch euren Geschäften nach und bedrückt alle eure Arbeiter. Siehe, wenn ihr fastet, hadert und zankt ihr und schlagt mit gottloser Faust drein. Ihr sollt nicht so fasten, wie ihr jetzt tut, wenn eure Stimme in der Höhe gehört werden soll. Soll das ein Fasten sein, an dem ich Gefallen habe, ein Tag, an dem man sich kasteit, wenn ein Mensch seinen Kopf hängen lässt wie Schilf und in Sack und Asche sich bettet? Wollt ihr das ein Fasten nennen und einen Tag, an dem der HERR Wohlgefallen hat?''	+	And what this text emphasizes is that our action on Monday is the test of whether we really are intent on attacking the sin in our lives, and therefore whether our fasting and praying and worshiping on Sunday is authentic. If we are sincere on Sunday in our prayerful opposition to the sin of our lives, then we will fight it on Monday with action. We may not always succeed as fully as we would like, but we will fight our sin on Monday if our fasting was true on Sunday.
-	''Das aber ist ein Fasten, an dem ich Gefallen habe: Lass los, die du mit Unrecht gebunden hast, lass ledig, auf die du das Joch gelegt hast! Gib frei, die du bedrückst, reiß jedes Joch weg! Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, und die im Elend ohne Obdach sind, führe ins Haus! Wenn du einen nackt siehst, so kleide ihn, und entzieh dich nicht deinem Fleisch und Blut!''	+	If there's an unresolved pocket of sin in your life and you are fasting about something else—some blessing, some healing—God's going to come to you and say, "The fast that I choose is for THAT sin to be dealt with." The way he does that here is very striking. Verse 5 says they were fasting and "humbling themselves." That word "humbling" also means "afflicting." So they were afflicting themselves with hunger. But God says that this is not the fast that he chooses. And in verse 10 he takes the very words "hungry" and "afflicted" and says that there are some hungry and afflicted people he is very concerned about, namely, the ones who are not choosing to be hungry and afflicted but are hungry and afflicted because the religious people oppress them instead of feeding them. Verse 10: "And if you give yourself to the hungry, And satisfy the desire of the afflicted . . . [instead of oppressing them]."
-	''Dann wird dein Licht hervorbrechen wie die Morgenröte, und deine Heilung wird schnell voranschreiten, und deine Gerechtigkeit wird vor dir hergehen, und die Herrlichkeit des HERRN wird deinen Zug beschließen. Dann wirst du rufen und der HERR wird dir antworten. Wenn du schreist, wird er sagen: Siehe, hier bin ich.''	+	In other words, your fasting and self-affliction on Sunday is not really an attack on your own sin of injustice and hard-heartedness. Because if it were, your action on Monday would be to alleviate the hunger and affliction of the poor, especially your own workers. There is a great irony here that God wants us to see. The poor are hungry and afflicted, verse 10 says. These well-to-do religious people are also hungry and afflicted—with fasting. But what are they fasting for? Is their fasting first a battle against their own sin?—the sin of driving hard all their workers? The sin of putting a heavy yoke on the back of the poor? The sin of neglecting the needs of the poor for clothing and housing? No. That is not what they are fasting against. Their behavior—on Monday—proves it. So God comes to them and says, "The fast that I choose is not that you religiously make yourselves hungry and afflicted, but that you make the poor less hungry and afflicted. If you want to fight sin by taking your bread away from your own mouth, then put it in the mouth of the poor. Then we will see if you are really fasting for righteousness' sake.
-	''Wenn du in deiner Mitte niemand unterjochst und nicht mit Fingern zeigst und nicht übel redest, sondern den Hungrigen dein Herz finden lässt und den Elenden sättigst, dann wird dein Licht in der Finsternis aufgehen, und dein Dunkel wird sein wie der Mittag.''	+	When we are living in sin—say the sin of hard-heartedness or deceit or injustice—the fast which God chooses is not a religious covering of this sin, but a direct frontal assault against this sin. For these people fasting was not a fight against the besetting sin of their lives; it was a camouflage. If they make themselves hunger a little bit and afflict themselves, maybe it won't matter so much that they are indifferent to the hunger and the affliction of the poor. So God comes and says, "I test your hearts. Go without bread for the sake of the poor. Give it to them. That's the fast I choose."
-	''Und der HERR wird dich immerdar führen und dich sättigen in der Dürre und dein Gebein stärken. Und du wirst sein wie ein bewässerter Garten und wie eine Wasserquelle, der es nie an Wasser fehlt.<br>Und es soll durch dich wieder aufgebaut werden, was lange wüst gelegen hat, und du wirst wieder aufrichten, was vorzeiten gegründet ward; und du sollst heißen:&nbsp;»Der die Lücken zumauert und die Wege ausbessert, dass man da wohnen könne«.''	+	'''God's Chosen Fast: A Doctor's Prescription not a Job Description'''
-	<br>'''Einführung und Rezension''' <br>Letzte Woche haben wir in den Versen 1-5 gesehen, dass der Test für dein wahrhaftiges Fasten am Sonntag darin besteht, wie du deine Mitmenschen am Montag behandelst. In Vers 3 rufen sie zu Gott: „Warum fasten wir und Du siehst es nicht an?“ Und Gott antwortet ihnen am Ende des Verses: „Siehe, an dem Tag, da ihr fastet, geht ihr doch euren Geschäften nach und bedrückt alle eure Arbeiter.“ Und Gott fragt in Vers 5: „Soll das ein Fasten sein, an dem ich Gefallen habe?“ Das bedeutet: solch ein Fasten ist unakzeptabel. Gott macht sich über solches Fasten lustig, wenn er in Vers 5 sagt: „…wenn ein Mensch seinen Kopf hängen lässt wie Schilf?“ Die Gebärden dieser selbstgebastelten Religion sind nicht geistlicher als ein gebeugtes Schilfrohr im Sumpf.	+	Then what God does in verses 6–12 is describe what is involved in living out this fast and what the spectacular rewards are for living this way. You recall that Jesus said, "Your heavenly Father who sees in secret will reward you." Well here are some of the kinds of things God promises to do for those who do this kind of fasting (cf. Psalm 41:1–3).
-	<br>Warum ist dieses Fasten für Gott unakzeptabel? Ist daran falsch? Das Falsche daran ist, dass es die Sünde in ihren Leben unberührt lässt. Das einzig wahre Fasten ist ein Fasten, das den geistlichen Angriff gegen unsere eigene Sünde einschließt. Wofür wir immer sonst noch fasten, wir müssen für unsere eigene Heiligkeit fasten. Wir können nicht für alles mögliche andere in Wahrhaftigkeit fasten, während wir in bekannter Sünde leben. Das einzig wahrhaftige Beten ist das Beten, das den geistlichen Angriff gegen unsere eigene Sünde einschließt. Der einzig wahrhaftige Lobpreis ist der Lobpreis, der letztendlich einen bedingungslosen geistlichen Angriff gegen unsere eigene Sünde einschließt.	+	First, let's look at the description of the fasting itself, and then at the promises of God for those who live this way. Don't make the mistake of thinking that this is a job description that God had given his people to show them how to earn wages from him. There is no earning going on here. The God of Isaiah cannot be negotiated with. He is sovereign and free and gives graciously to those who trust him. Isaiah 30:15 says, "For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, 'In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.'" The strength to do the fast God calls us to do does not come from us. It comes from God. And it comes through trusting him.
-	<br>Und was dieser Text hervorhebt, ist, dass unser Handeln am Montag der Test dafür ist, ob wir wirklich beabsichtigen, die Sünde in unserem Leben anzugreifen und deswegen unser Fasten und Beten und Lobpreis am Sonntag wahrhaftig ist. Sollte unser frommer Widerstand gegen die Sünde in unserem Leben am Sonntag wirklich aufrichtig sein, so bekämpfen wir sie am Montag mit Taten. Wir werden nicht immer so erfolgreich sein, wie wir es gern hätten, aber wir werden unsere Sünde am Montag bekämpfen, wenn unser Fasten am Sonntag aufrichtig war.	+	What God calls the people to do is not a job ''description'', but a Doctor's ''prescription''. You can see that in verse 8 where it says that if you act this way—if you follow the Doctor's prescription of fasting—"Your recovery—your healing—will speedily spring forth." If you trust the Doctor, and show this by obeying his instructions, you will get well. So don't think that you are going to earn anything from God. Trust his sovereign grace and follow his prescription, and you will be mightily blessed. But it will never occur to you to think that you have earned or merited anything.
-	<br>Sollte es noch ungelöste Sünde in deinem Leben geben, während du für etwas anderes fastest – sei es Segen oder Heilung – so kommt Gott zu dir und sagt: „Das Fasten, das ich erwähle, ist für die Sünde, mit der du dich beschäftigst.“ Die Art, wie er das hier macht, ist sehr bemerkenswert. Vers 5 sagt, dass sie fasteten und sich selbst demütigten. Das Wort „demütigen“ bedeutet auch „bedrücken“. So bedrücken sie sich selbst mit Hunger. Gott jedoch sagt, dass das nicht das Fasten ist, das er erwählt. Und in Vers 10 verwendet er die ausdrücklichen Worte „hungrig“ und „bedrückt“ und sagt, dass es einige hungrige und bedrückte Menschen gibt, über die er sehr besorgt ist, nämlich diejenigen, die sich ihren Hunger und ihre Bedrückung nicht ausgesucht haben, sondern die hungrig und bedrückt sind, weil die religiösen Menschen sie unterdrücken, anstatt sie zu speisen. Vers 10: „… sondern den Hungrigen dein Herz finden lässt und den Elenden sättigst, … (anstatt sie zu unterdrücken)."	+	'''What the Doctor Prescribes'''
-	<br>Mit anderen Worten, dein Fasten und deine Selbstkasteiung am Sonntag ist kein wirklicher Angriff gegen deine eigene Sünde der Ungerechtigkeit und Hartherzigkeit. Denn wenn es so wäre, bestünde deine Tat am Montag darin, den Hunger und die Bedrückung der Armen und Unterdrückten, insbesondere deiner eigenen Arbeiter, zu mildern. Es gibt hier eine große Ironie, die Gott uns sehen lassen will. Die Armen sind hungrig und bedrückt, sagt Vers 10. Diese wohlhabenden religiösen Menschen sind ebenfalls hungrig und bedrückt – mit Fasten. Aber wofür fasten sie? Stellt ihr Fasten zuerst ein Kampf gegen die eigene Sünde dar? Die Sünde, all ihre Arbeiter zu schinden? Die Sünde, den Armen ein schweres Joch aufzubürden? Die Sünde, die Bedürfnisse der Armen nach Kleidung und Unterkunft zu übersehen? Nein, dagegen fasten sie nicht. Ihr Verhalten am Montag beweist es. So kommt Gott zu ihnen und sagt: „Das Fasten, das ich erwähle, ist nicht, dass ihr euch religiös selbst hungrig macht und bedrückt, sondern dass Ihr die Armen speist und nicht länger unterdrückt. Dann werden wir sehen, ob Ihr wirklich um der Gerechtigkeit willen fastet.	+	Let's look at the prescription—the fast that God chooses. Beginning in verse 6: "Is not this the fast I choose,
-	<br>Wenn wir in Sünde leben – sagen wir, die Sünde der Hartherzigkeit oder der Betrügerei oder der Ungerechtigkeit – so ist das Fasten, das Gott erwählt, nicht ein religiöses Zudecken von Sünde, sondern ein direkter Frontalangriff gegen diese Sünde. Für diese Menschen war das Fasten kein Kampf gegen die hartnäckige Sünde in ihrem Leben; es war eine Tarnung. Wenn sie selbst ein klein wenig hungern und sich plagen, dann macht ihnen das immer noch so wenig aus, das ihnen der Hunger und die Niedergeschlagenheit der Armen gleichgültig ist. Also kommt Gott und sagt: „Ich teste eure Herzen. Der Armen zuliebe gehe ohne Brot. Gib es ihnen. Das ist das Fasten, das ich erwähle." <br>	+	*To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
		+	*To undo the bands of the yoke,
		+	*And to let the oppressed go free,
		+	*And break every yoke?
		+	*Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry,
		+	*And bring the homeless poor into the house;
		+	*When you see the naked, to cover him;
		+	*And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
-	'''Gottes auserwähltes Fasten: Das Rezept eines Arztes, keine Stellenbeschreibung.'''<br>Dann beschreibt Gott in den Versen 6-12, was im Ausleben dieses Fastens enthalten ist und was die spektakulären Belohnungen für solch eine Lebensweise sind. Du erinnerst dich, dass Jesus sagte: „Dein himmlischer Vater, der ins Verborgene sieht, wird es dir vergelten.“ Nun, hier sind einige der Dinge, die Gott denen zu tun verspricht, die in dieser Weise fasten (Psalm 41:1–3).	+	Then in verses 8 and 9a come the promises of what will happen if you trust the Doctor's fasting directions. But skip over that for a moment and go to the rest of the prescription in verse 9b–10a.
-	<br>Lassen Sie uns zuerst die Beschreibung des Fastens selbst anschauen, und danach die Verheißungen Gottes für die, die in dieser Weise leben. Machen Sie nicht den Fehler, zu denken, dies sei eine Stellenbeschreibung, die Gott seinem Volk gegeben hat, um ihnen zu zeigen, wie man eine Belohnung bei ihm verdienen kann. Es geht hier nicht um Belohnung. Mit dem Gott Jesajas kann man nicht verhandeln. Er ist souverän und frei und gibt aus Gnade denen, die ihm vertrauen. Jesaja 30:15 sagt: „Denn so spricht Gott der HERR, der Heilige Israels: Wenn ihr umkehrtet und stille bliebet, so würde euch geholfen; durch Stillesein und Hoffen würdet ihr stark sein.“ Die Stärke für jenes Fasten, das Gott von uns fordert, kommt nicht aus uns. Sie kommt von Gott. Und sie kommt dadurch, dass wir ihm vertrauen.	+	*"If you remove the yoke from your midst,
		+	*The pointing of the finger,
		+	*And speaking wickedness
		+	*And if you give yourself to the hungry,
		+	*And satisfy the desire of the afflicted . . . "
-	<br>Was Gott von den Menschen fordert, dass sie tun sollen, ist keine Stellenbeschreibung, sondern die Verschreibung eines Arztes. Du kannst es in Vers 8 sehen, wo es heißt, wenn du in dieser Weise handelst – wenn du der Anweisung des Arztes zum Fasten folgst – „dann wird Deine Gesundung – deine Heilung – schnell voran schreiten.“ Wenn du dem Arzt vertraust und das dadurch zeigst, dass du seine Anweisungen befolgst, wirst du wieder gesund. Denke also nicht, dass du irgendetwas von Gott verdienst. Vertraue seiner souveränen Gnade und folge seiner Verschreibung, und du wirst mächtig gesegnet werden. Aber es soll nicht vorkommen, dass du denkst, du habest irgendetwas verdient.	+	That's the Doctor's prescription. That's the fast that the Doctor prescribes for the patient Israel who is sick with the disease of hypocrisy and hard-heartedness against the poor.
-	<br>'''Was der Arzt verschreibt '''<br>Sehen wir uns die Verschreibung an – das Fasten, das Gott erwählt. Wir beginnen mit Vers 6: "Das aber ist ein Fasten, an dem ich Gefallen habe,	+	There are 13 components but they seem to fall into about seven categories. I give these as a call on the life of our church. We must discover how to join in this prescription of fasting.
-	<br>	+	'''1. Lift the Burden of Bondage'''
-	*Lass los, die du mit Unrecht gebunden hast,	+	In this fasting, we are called to lift the burden of bondage.
-	*lass ledig, auf die du das Joch gelegt hast,	+
-	*Gib frei, die du bedrückst,	+
-	*reiß jedes Joch weg.	+
-	*Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot,	+
-	*und die im Elend ohne Obdach sind, führe ins Haus;	+
-	*Wenn du einen nackt siehst, so kleide ihn;	+
-	*und entzieh dich nicht deinem Fleisch und Blut"	+
-	Dann kommen in den Versen 8 und 9a die Verheißungen dessen, was passiert, wenn du den Anweisungen des Arztes zum Fasten folgst. Wir überspringen das jedoch für einen Moment und wenden uns dem Rest der Verschreibung in den Versen 9b – 10a zu.	+	Five of these components call for freedom. Verse 6:
-	<br>	+	*"To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
		+	*To undo the bands of the yoke,
		+	*And to let the oppressed go free,
		+	*And break every yoke?"
-	*"Wenn du in deiner Mitte niemand unterjochst,	+	Verse 9:
-	*und nicht mit Fingern zeigst,	+
-	*und nicht übel redest,	+
-	*sondern den Hungrigen dein Herz finden lässt,	+
-	*und den Elenden sättigst . . . "	+
-	Das ist die Verschreibung des Arztes. Das ist das Fasten, das der Arzt dem Patienten Israel verschreibt, der an seiner Heuchelei und Hartherzigkeit gegenüber den Armen krank geworden ist.	+	*"If you remove the yoke from your midst . . . "
-	<br>Es gibt 13 Bestandteile, aber sie scheinen in sieben verschiedene Kategorien zu fallen. Ich gebe dies als einen Ruf an das Leben unserer Gemeinde weiter. Wir müssen entdecken, wie wir an dieser Verschreibung des Fastens teilhaben können.	+	Bonds, bands, yoke, oppression, yoke, yoke . . . The point here is: live to free people not burden them. Jesus said in Luke 11:46, "Woe to you lawyers as well! For you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers." We are called to free people from burdens, not oppress them with burdens.
-	<br>'''1. Lass los, die du mit Unrecht gebunden hast '''<br>Bei diesem Fasten sind wir dazu aufgerufen, die Last der Knechtschaft aufzuheben. <br>Fünf dieser Bestandteile verlangen nach Freiheit. Vers 6: <br>	+	'''2. Feed the Hungry'''
-	*"Lass los, die du mit Unrecht gebunden hast,	+	In this fasting we are called to feed the hungry.
-	*lass ledig, auf die du das Joch gelegt hast,	+
-	*Gib frei, die du bedrückst,	+
-	*reiß jedes Joch weg."	+
-	<br>Vers 9: <br> " Wenn du in deiner Mitte niemand unterjochst . . . " <br>Knechtschaft, Bande, Joch, Unterdrückung, Joch, Joch … Der entscheidende Punkt hier ist: Lebe, um Menschen zu befreien, nicht, um sie zu belasten. Jesus sagt in Lukas 11:46: „Weh auch euch Schriftgelehrten! Denn ihr beladet die Menschen mit unerträglichen Lasten und ihr selbst rührt sie nicht mit einem Finger an.“ Wir sind dazu berufen, Menschen von ihren Lasten zu befreien, aber nicht, sie mit Lasten zu unterdrücken.	+	Verse 7: "Is [this fast] not to divide your bread with the hungry?"
-	<br>'''2. Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot '''<br>Bei diesem Fasten sind wir dazu aufgerufen, den Hungrigen unser Brot zu brechen. <br>Vers 7: "Bedeutet [dieses Fasten] nicht, dem Hungrigen dein Brot zu brechen?"	+	'''3. House the Homeless'''<br>In this fasting we are called to house the homeless.
-	<br>'''3. Dem Obdachlosen Obdach geben'''<br>Bei diesem Fasten sind wir dazu aufgerufen, dem Obdachlosen Obdach zu geben. <br>Vers 7: "Und die im Elend ohne Obdach sind, führe ins Haus."	+	Verse 7: "And bring the homeless poor into the house."
-	<br>'''4. Den Nackten kleiden '''<br>Bei diesem Fasten sind wir dazu aufgerufen, den Nackten zu kleiden. <br>Vers 7: "Wenn du einen nackt siehst, so kleide ihn."	+	'''4. Clothe the Naked''' <br>In this fasting we are called to clothe the naked.
-	<br>'''5. Mitfühlend sein'''<br>Bei diesem Fasten sind wir dazu aufgerufen, mitfühlend zu sein; zu fühlen, wie andere fühlen, weil wir aus demselben Fleisch sind wie sie. <br>Vers 7: "Und entzieh dich nicht deinem Fleisch und Blut." Der Gedanke könnte derselbe sein wie in Hebräer 13:3: “ Denkt an die Gefangenen, als wärt ihr Mitgefangene, und an die Misshandelten, weil ihr auch noch im Leibe lebt.“ Du bist aus demselben Fleisch wie sie. Versetze dich deswegen in ihre Lage, und fühle, was sie fühlen.	+	Verse 7: "When you see the naked, to cover him."
-	<br>'''6. Die Verachtung für andere Menschen hinauswerfen '''<br>Bei diesem Fasten sind wir dazu aufgerufen, alle Gesten und Worte, die offene Verachtung für andere Menschen ausdrücken, hinauszuwerfen. <br>Vers 9: "Und nicht mit Fingern zeigst [wörtlich “das Anklagen” mit dem Finger, das unserem groben “auf jemanden mit dem Finger zeigen” wesentlich näher kommt, als dem bloßen „auf jemanden hinweisen“ ]; und nicht übel redest.“ Deswegen rede und verhalte dich nicht in einer Weise, die eine gefühllose Geringschätzung für andere ausdrückt.	+	'''5. Be Sympathetic'''<br>In this fasting we are called to be sympathetic; to feel what others feel because we have the same flesh they do.
-	<br>'''7. Uns selbst geben und die Seelen der Bedrückten sättigen '''<br>Schließlich sind wir bei diesem Fasten aufgerufen, nicht nur etwas zu essen zu geben, sondern uns selbst – unsere Seelen – und nicht nur den Magen der Armen zu sättigen, sondern die Seelen der Bedrückten. <br>Vers 10: "Sondern den Hungrigen dein Herz [= Seele] finden lässt und den Elenden [wörtlich: seine Seele]sättigst . . . " Dies ist eine der Botschaften dieses Wochenendes mit John Hayes: den Armen dienen bedeutet nicht nur, Dinge weiterzugeben. Es geht darum, uns selbst zu geben. Es geht nicht nur um Hilfe. Es geht um Beziehungen.	+	Verse 7: "And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?" The thought may be the same as Hebrews 13:3, "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." You have the same flesh they do. So put yourself in their place and feel what they feel.
-	<br>'''Die verheißenen Ergebnisse, wenn man der Verschreibung des Arztes folgt'''<br>Wenn wir Gott nun genug vertrauen, um ihm in diesem verschriebenen Sieben-Punkte Fasten zu folgen, was wird dann in unserem Leben und in unserer Gemeinde passieren? Diese Verheißungen sind sieben Predigten wert. Aber ich will hier nur die Kategorien erwähnen und beten, dass Gott dir ein Herz geben möge, lang genug darüber nachzudenken, um die Reichtümer dessen zu erkennen.	+	'''6. Put Away Contempt for Other People'''
-	<br>'''1. Aus Finsternis wird Licht'''<br>Wenn wir in dieser Weise fasten, dann wird die Finsternis in unserem Leben zu Licht: <br>Vers 8: "Dann wird dein Licht hervorbrechen wie die Morgenröte." <br>Vers 10 (am Ende): "Dann wird dein Licht in der Finsternis aufgehen, und dein Dunkel wird sein wie der Mittag." <br>Willst du in deinem Leben Licht anstatt Dunkelheit? Sieh auf die köstlichen Reichtümer Gottes – höre auf deinen Arzt – und lasse es aus dir herausströmen für einen anderen Menschen, der in Not ist.	+	In this fasting we are called to put away gestures and words that show raw contempt for other people.
-	<br>'''2. Körperliche Stärkung'''<br>Wenn wir dieses Fasten befolgen, erleben wir körperliche Stärkung. <br>Vers 8: "Und deine Heilung wird schnell voranschreiten. . . " Vers 11: "Und er wird dein Gebein stärken." Wer weiß, wie viel Schwäche in uns ist, weil wir unsere Kraft nicht an andere weitergeben, die schwach sind?	+	Verse 9: "Remove . . . the pointing of the finger [literally, the "sending" of the finger, which may be a lot closer to our crude "giving someone the finger" than it is to merely pointing at someone]; and [remove] speaking wickedness." So don't speak and don't gesture in ways that show callous contempt for others.
-	<br>'''3. Gott umgibt uns mit Gerechtigkeit und Herrlichkeit'''<br>Wenn wir dieses Fasten befolgen, ist Gott vor uns und hinter uns und mitten unter uns mit Gerechtigkeit und Herrlichkeit. <br>Vers 8, am Ende: "Und deine Gerechtigkeit wird vor dir hergehen, und die Herrlichkeit des HERRN wird deinen Zug beschließen." Also ist Gott vor dir mit Gerechtigkeit und hinter dir mit seiner Herrlichkeit. Vers 9: „Dann wirst du rufen und der HERR wird dir antworten. Wenn du schreist, wird er sagen: Siehe, hier bin ich.“ Wann immer es notwendig ist, sagt er jederzeit „Hier!“. Wenn wir das tun, was sein Sohn tat – in der Kraft, die der Sohn gibt – „arm werden, damit andere reich werden“ (2. Korinther 8:9), dann wirkt Gott in uns und hinter uns und vor uns und umgibt uns mit seiner allmächtigen Liebe und seinem Schutz und seiner Fürsorge.	+	'''7. Give Ourselves and Satisfy the Soul of the Afflicted'''
-	<br>'''4. Gott wird uns ständig leiten '''<br>Wenn wir dieses Fasten befolgen, verspricht uns Gott, uns ständig zu leiten. <br>Vers 11: "Und der HERR wird dich immerdar führen." Was für eine wertvolle Verheißung das für uns als Kirche und als gesamte Gemeinde ist. Ich frage mich, wie viel Verwirrung und Unsicherheit im Leben einiger Leute besteht, die daher kommt, dass sie den Dienst an den Armen vernachlässigen. Es scheint, dass der Herr seine engste Führung denen gibt, die dazu neigen, sich selbst den Nöten anderer hinzugeben – insbesondere den Armen.	+	Finally, in this fasting we are called not just to give food, but to give ourselves—our souls—and not just to satisfy the stomach of the poor, but the soul of the afflicted.
-	<br>'''5. Gott wird deine Seele sättigen '''<br>Wenn wir diesem Fasten folgen, wird er deine Seele sättigen. <br>Vers 11: “Und er wird dich sättigen in der Dürre.” Unsere Seelen sollen in Gott gesättigt werden. Aber wir haben immer und immer wieder gelernt, dass diese Sättigung in Gott zur Vollendung kommt, wenn wir unsere Sättigung in ihm auf andere ausweiten. Indem wir uns selbst an die Armen verströmen, gehen wir den Weg der tiefsten Zufriedenheit.	+	Verse 10: "And if you give yourself [= soul] to the hungry, and satisfy the desire [literally: soul] of the afflicted . . . " This is one of the messages of this weekend with John Hayes: ministry to the poor is not merely giving things. It is giving self. It's not just relief. It's relationship.
-	<br>'''6. Gott wird uns zu einem bewässerten Garten machen'''<br>Wenn wir diesem Fasten folgen, macht Gott uns zu einem bewässerten Garten mit Quellen, die nicht versiegen. <br>Vers 11, am Ende: “Und du wirst sein wie ein bewässerter Garten und wie eine Wasserquelle, der es nie an Wasser fehlt.“ Es ist ein paradoxes, geistliches Prinzip in der Schrift: wenn du dich selbst verströmst, wirst du voll. Wenn du etwas weggibst, bekommst du mehr. Wenn du mit der Gnade Gottes bewässert wirst, dann wirst du nicht nur ein nasser, lebendiger Garten; du wirst auch zu einer Wasserquelle. <br>Diese Verheißung erlangt im Neuen Testament ihre Erfüllung, als Jesus diesen Vers in Johannes 7:38 benutzt: “ Wer an mich glaubt, wie die Schrift sagt, von dessen Leib werden Ströme lebendigen Wassers fließen [eine Wasserquelle, die nicht versiegt]. Das sagte er aber von dem Geist, den die empfangen sollten, die an ihn glaubten.“ Es geht also um die Frage, ob du Jesus vertraust: „Wer an mich glaubt…“ Der Geist Gottes unterstützt uns mit all seiner Kraft, wenn wir uns aus Glauben Jesus auf dem Weg der Liebe und Gnade gegenüber den Notleidenden hingeben.	+	'''The Promised Results of Following the Doctor's Prescription'''<br>Now, if we trust God enough to follow him in this prescribed seven-point fast, what will happen in our lives and in our church? These promises are worthy of about seven sermons. But I will mention the categories and pray that God will give you a heart to meditate on them long enough to see the riches.
-	<br>'''7. Gott wird die Ruinen seiner Stadt und sein Volk wieder aufbauen '''<br>Wenn wir diesem Fasten folgen, indem wir uns selbst den Armen hingeben, wird Gott die Ruinen seiner Stadt wieder herstellen – und sein Volk. <br>Vers 12: “Und es soll durch dich wieder aufgebaut werden, was lange wüst gelegen hat, und du wirst wieder aufrichten, was vorzeiten gegründet ward; und du sollst heißen:&nbsp;»Der die Lücken zumauert und die Wege ausbessert, dass man da wohnen könne«“. <br>Lasst uns dem großen Arzt vertrauen – dem Herrn, unserem Heiler. Lasst uns jenes Fasten annehmen, das er uns verschrieben hat. Das bedeutet Licht und Heilung und Leitung und Erfrischung und Wiederherstellung und Leben aus überfließenden Quellen – und alles das mit Gott vor uns und hinter uns und mitten unter uns. Etwas besseres kann es nicht geben.	+	'''1. Darkness Will Become Light'''<br>If we fast like this, the darkness in our life will become light:
-	<br>	+	Verse 8: "Then your light will break out like the dawn."
		+
		+	Verse 10 (at the end): "Then your light will rise in darkness, And your gloom will become like midday."
		+
		+	Do you want light in your life instead of gloom? Look to the gracious resources of God—listen to your Doctor—and pour yourself out for another person in need.
		+
		+	'''2. Physical Strengthening'''<br>If we follow this fasting, there will be physical strengthening.
		+
		+	Verse 8: "And your recovery will speedily spring forth . . . " Verse 11: "And [he will] give strength to your bones." Who knows how much weakness is in us because we may not be pouring our energy into the weakness of others?
		+
		+	'''3. God All Around Us with Righteousness and Glory'''<br>If we follow this fasting, God will be in front of us and behind us and in the midst of us with righteousness and glory.
		+
		+	Verse 8, at the end: "And your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." So God will be in front of you with righteousness and behind you with his glory. Verse 9: "Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'" Whenever the role is called, he always says, "Here!" When we are doing what his Son did—in the power that the Son gives—"becoming poor that others might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9), then God moves in on us and behind us and in front of us and surrounds us with omnipotent love and protection and care.
		+
		+	'''4. God Will Guide Us Continually''' <br>If we follow this fasting, God promises to guide us continually.
		+
		+	Verse 11: "And the Lord will continually guide you." O what a precious promise that is for us now as a church and a Master Planning Team. I wonder how much confusion and uncertainty there may be in some of our lives that comes from the neglect of ministry to the poor? It seems the Lord gives his most intimate guidance to those bent on giving themselves to the needs of others—especially the poor.
		+
		+	'''5. God Will Satisfy Our Soul'''
		+
		+	If we follow this fasting, he will satisfy your soul.
		+
		+	Verse 11: "And [he will] satisfy your desire [literally: your soul] in scorched places." Our souls are meant to be satisfied in God. But we have learned again and again that this satisfaction in God comes to consummation when we extend our satisfaction in him to others. Pouring ourselves out for the poor is the path of deepest satisfaction.
		+
		+	'''6. God Will Make Us a Watered Garden'''<br>If we follow this fasting, God will make you a watered garden with springs that do not fail.
		+
		+	Verse 11, at the end: "And you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." It is a paradoxical spiritual principle in Scripture: as you pour yourself out, you become full. As you give away, you get more. When you are watered with God's grace you do not merely become a wet, moist, living garden; you also become a spring.
		+
		+	This promise comes to its fulfillment in the New Testament when Jesus used this verse in John 7:38, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water' [a spring of waters that does not fail]. 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive." So you can see that trusting Jesus is the issue: "He who believes in me . . . ' The Spirit bestirs himself most fully when we by faith give ourselves with Jesus in the path of love and mercy toward the destitute.
		+
		+	'''7. God Will Restore the Ruins of His City, and People'''
		+
		+	Finally, if we follow this fasting, that is, if we give ourselves to the poor, God will restore the ruins of his city—and his people.
		+
		+	Verse 12: "And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell."
		+
		+	Let's trust the Great Physician—the Lord, our healer. Let's accept the fast that he has prescribed for us. It will mean light and healing and guidance and refreshment and restoration and resourcefulness—and all this with God himself before us and behind us and in the midst of us. And it doesn't get any better than that.
		+
		+	[[Category:Top priority]]

---

Revision as of 17:02, 24 April 2009

Isaiah 58:1-12

1 Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression, And to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek Me day by day, and delight to know My ways, As a nation that has done Thou righteousness, And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God. 3 'Why have we fasted and Thou dost not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and Thou dost not notice?' Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, And drive hard all your workers. 4 Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. 5 Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one's head like a reed, And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? 6 Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free, And break every yoke? 7 Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 And if you give yourself to the hungry, And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness, And your gloom will become like midday. 11 And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. 12 And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

Introduction and Review

What we saw last week from verses 1–5 was that how you treat people on Monday is the test of the authenticity of your fasting on Sunday. They cry out to God in verse 3, "Why have we fasted and Thou dost not see?" And God answers at the end of the verse, "Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers." And God asks in verse 5, "Is it a fast like this which I choose?" Meaning: such a fast is unacceptable. God even makes sport of such a fasting when he says in verse 5, "Is it for bowing one's head like a reed?" The gestures of this self-inflicted religion are no more spiritual than a bent reed in the swamp.

Why is this fasting unacceptable to God? What's wrong with it? What's wrong with it is that it left the sin in their lives untouched. The only authentic fasting is fasting that includes a spiritual attack against our own sin. Whatever else we fast for, we must fast for our own holiness. We cannot fast for anything with authenticity while living in known sin. The only authentic praying is praying that includes an attack against our own sin. The only authentic worship is worship that includes at least an implicit attack against our own sin.

And what this text emphasizes is that our action on Monday is the test of whether we really are intent on attacking the sin in our lives, and therefore whether our fasting and praying and worshiping on Sunday is authentic. If we are sincere on Sunday in our prayerful opposition to the sin of our lives, then we will fight it on Monday with action. We may not always succeed as fully as we would like, but we will fight our sin on Monday if our fasting was true on Sunday.

If there's an unresolved pocket of sin in your life and you are fasting about something else—some blessing, some healing—God's going to come to you and say, "The fast that I choose is for THAT sin to be dealt with." The way he does that here is very striking. Verse 5 says they were fasting and "humbling themselves." That word "humbling" also means "afflicting." So they were afflicting themselves with hunger. But God says that this is not the fast that he chooses. And in verse 10 he takes the very words "hungry" and "afflicted" and says that there are some hungry and afflicted people he is very concerned about, namely, the ones who are not choosing to be hungry and afflicted but are hungry and afflicted because the religious people oppress them instead of feeding them. Verse 10: "And if you give yourself to the hungry, And satisfy the desire of the afflicted . . . [instead of oppressing them]."

In other words, your fasting and self-affliction on Sunday is not really an attack on your own sin of injustice and hard-heartedness. Because if it were, your action on Monday would be to alleviate the hunger and affliction of the poor, especially your own workers. There is a great irony here that God wants us to see. The poor are hungry and afflicted, verse 10 says. These well-to-do religious people are also hungry and afflicted—with fasting. But what are they fasting for? Is their fasting first a battle against their own sin?—the sin of driving hard all their workers? The sin of putting a heavy yoke on the back of the poor? The sin of neglecting the needs of the poor for clothing and housing? No. That is not what they are fasting against. Their behavior—on Monday—proves it. So God comes to them and says, "The fast that I choose is not that you religiously make yourselves hungry and afflicted, but that you make the poor less hungry and afflicted. If you want to fight sin by taking your bread away from your own mouth, then put it in the mouth of the poor. Then we will see if you are really fasting for righteousness' sake.

When we are living in sin—say the sin of hard-heartedness or deceit or injustice—the fast which God chooses is not a religious covering of this sin, but a direct frontal assault against this sin. For these people fasting was not a fight against the besetting sin of their lives; it was a camouflage. If they make themselves hunger a little bit and afflict themselves, maybe it won't matter so much that they are indifferent to the hunger and the affliction of the poor. So God comes and says, "I test your hearts. Go without bread for the sake of the poor. Give it to them. That's the fast I choose."

God's Chosen Fast: A Doctor's Prescription not a Job Description

Then what God does in verses 6–12 is describe what is involved in living out this fast and what the spectacular rewards are for living this way. You recall that Jesus said, "Your heavenly Father who sees in secret will reward you." Well here are some of the kinds of things God promises to do for those who do this kind of fasting (cf. Psalm 41:1–3).

First, let's look at the description of the fasting itself, and then at the promises of God for those who live this way. Don't make the mistake of thinking that this is a job description that God had given his people to show them how to earn wages from him. There is no earning going on here. The God of Isaiah cannot be negotiated with. He is sovereign and free and gives graciously to those who trust him. Isaiah 30:15 says, "For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, 'In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.'" The strength to do the fast God calls us to do does not come from us. It comes from God. And it comes through trusting him.

What God calls the people to do is not a job description, but a Doctor's prescription. You can see that in verse 8 where it says that if you act this way—if you follow the Doctor's prescription of fasting—"Your recovery—your healing—will speedily spring forth." If you trust the Doctor, and show this by obeying his instructions, you will get well. So don't think that you are going to earn anything from God. Trust his sovereign grace and follow his prescription, and you will be mightily blessed. But it will never occur to you to think that you have earned or merited anything.

What the Doctor Prescribes

Let's look at the prescription—the fast that God chooses. Beginning in verse 6: "Is not this the fast I choose,

• To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
• To undo the bands of the yoke,
• And to let the oppressed go free,
• And break every yoke?
• Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry,
• And bring the homeless poor into the house;
• When you see the naked, to cover him;
• And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Then in verses 8 and 9a come the promises of what will happen if you trust the Doctor's fasting directions. But skip over that for a moment and go to the rest of the prescription in verse 9b–10a.

• "If you remove the yoke from your midst,
• The pointing of the finger,
• And speaking wickedness
• And if you give yourself to the hungry,
• And satisfy the desire of the afflicted . . . "

That's the Doctor's prescription. That's the fast that the Doctor prescribes for the patient Israel who is sick with the disease of hypocrisy and hard-heartedness against the poor.

There are 13 components but they seem to fall into about seven categories. I give these as a call on the life of our church. We must discover how to join in this prescription of fasting.

1. Lift the Burden of Bondage

In this fasting, we are called to lift the burden of bondage.

Five of these components call for freedom. Verse 6:

• "To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
• To undo the bands of the yoke,
• And to let the oppressed go free,
• And break every yoke?"

Verse 9:

• "If you remove the yoke from your midst . . . "

Bonds, bands, yoke, oppression, yoke, yoke . . . The point here is: live to free people not burden them. Jesus said in Luke 11:46, "Woe to you lawyers as well! For you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers." We are called to free people from burdens, not oppress them with burdens.

2. Feed the Hungry

In this fasting we are called to feed the hungry.

Verse 7: "Is [this fast] not to divide your bread with the hungry?"

3. House the Homeless
In this fasting we are called to house the homeless.

Verse 7: "And bring the homeless poor into the house."

4. Clothe the Naked
In this fasting we are called to clothe the naked.

Verse 7: "When you see the naked, to cover him."

5. Be Sympathetic
In this fasting we are called to be sympathetic; to feel what others feel because we have the same flesh they do.

Verse 7: "And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?" The thought may be the same as Hebrews 13:3, "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." You have the same flesh they do. So put yourself in their place and feel what they feel.

6. Put Away Contempt for Other People

In this fasting we are called to put away gestures and words that show raw contempt for other people.

Verse 9: "Remove . . . the pointing of the finger [literally, the "sending" of the finger, which may be a lot closer to our crude "giving someone the finger" than it is to merely pointing at someone]; and [remove] speaking wickedness." So don't speak and don't gesture in ways that show callous contempt for others.

7. Give Ourselves and Satisfy the Soul of the Afflicted

Finally, in this fasting we are called not just to give food, but to give ourselves—our souls—and not just to satisfy the stomach of the poor, but the soul of the afflicted.

Verse 10: "And if you give yourself [= soul] to the hungry, and satisfy the desire [literally: soul] of the afflicted . . . " This is one of the messages of this weekend with John Hayes: ministry to the poor is not merely giving things. It is giving self. It's not just relief. It's relationship.

The Promised Results of Following the Doctor's Prescription
Now, if we trust God enough to follow him in this prescribed seven-point fast, what will happen in our lives and in our church? These promises are worthy of about seven sermons. But I will mention the categories and pray that God will give you a heart to meditate on them long enough to see the riches.

1. Darkness Will Become Light
If we fast like this, the darkness in our life will become light:

Verse 8: "Then your light will break out like the dawn."

Verse 10 (at the end): "Then your light will rise in darkness, And your gloom will become like midday."

Do you want light in your life instead of gloom? Look to the gracious resources of God—listen to your Doctor—and pour yourself out for another person in need.

2. Physical Strengthening
If we follow this fasting, there will be physical strengthening.

Verse 8: "And your recovery will speedily spring forth . . . " Verse 11: "And [he will] give strength to your bones." Who knows how much weakness is in us because we may not be pouring our energy into the weakness of others?

3. God All Around Us with Righteousness and Glory
If we follow this fasting, God will be in front of us and behind us and in the midst of us with righteousness and glory.

Verse 8, at the end: "And your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." So God will be in front of you with righteousness and behind you with his glory. Verse 9: "Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'" Whenever the role is called, he always says, "Here!" When we are doing what his Son did—in the power that the Son gives—"becoming poor that others might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9), then God moves in on us and behind us and in front of us and surrounds us with omnipotent love and protection and care.

4. God Will Guide Us Continually
If we follow this fasting, God promises to guide us continually.

Verse 11: "And the Lord will continually guide you." O what a precious promise that is for us now as a church and a Master Planning Team. I wonder how much confusion and uncertainty there may be in some of our lives that comes from the neglect of ministry to the poor? It seems the Lord gives his most intimate guidance to those bent on giving themselves to the needs of others—especially the poor.

5. God Will Satisfy Our Soul

If we follow this fasting, he will satisfy your soul.

Verse 11: "And [he will] satisfy your desire [literally: your soul] in scorched places." Our souls are meant to be satisfied in God. But we have learned again and again that this satisfaction in God comes to consummation when we extend our satisfaction in him to others. Pouring ourselves out for the poor is the path of deepest satisfaction.

6. God Will Make Us a Watered Garden
If we follow this fasting, God will make you a watered garden with springs that do not fail.

Verse 11, at the end: "And you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." It is a paradoxical spiritual principle in Scripture: as you pour yourself out, you become full. As you give away, you get more. When you are watered with God's grace you do not merely become a wet, moist, living garden; you also become a spring.

This promise comes to its fulfillment in the New Testament when Jesus used this verse in John 7:38, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water' [a spring of waters that does not fail]. 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive." So you can see that trusting Jesus is the issue: "He who believes in me . . . ' The Spirit bestirs himself most fully when we by faith give ourselves with Jesus in the path of love and mercy toward the destitute.

7. God Will Restore the Ruins of His City, and People

Finally, if we follow this fasting, that is, if we give ourselves to the poor, God will restore the ruins of his city—and his people.

Verse 12: "And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell."

Let's trust the Great Physician—the Lord, our healer. Let's accept the fast that he has prescribed for us. It will mean light and healing and guidance and refreshment and restoration and resourcefulness—and all this with God himself before us and behind us and in the midst of us. And it doesn't get any better than that.