What Type Of Fast Will Please God?

Isaiah 58:1-12

This week marks the beginning of Lent in many Christian denominations, with Ash Wednesday midweek.  Lent is a period of approximately 6 weeks, or 40 days, prior to Holy Week, leading up to the festival of Easter.  It has been a time for many Christians to develop a deeper relationship with God through spiritual discipline. Lent has been a traditional time to give up certain pleasures, and also to fast or partial fast, such as giving up sweets.  In our Scripture passage today, the prophet Isaiah addresses the custom of fasting, looking more deeply into why some people fast, and what exactly God is looking for.

Throughout his ministry, the prophet Isaiah, and other prophets as well, preached to the people, calling them on their hypocrisy.  The people loved to appear religious and pious to others, going through religious rituals, yet their hearts were far from God. They had no real relationship with Him.  As Isaiah pointed out, their fasting was only half-hearted, without genuine prayer to God (vs. 3-7). It was only an outward ritual, without any real repentance over sin, or real humility.

If we decide we will fast or other religious observance during Lent, what are our reasons?  Isaiah wanted the people to take a good look at themselves, and question their motives. Some people seem to be religious, but are only going through the motions.  Their holiness is merely pretense. When they fast, they want the applause of men for their piety. They want God to pile up rewards for them for their religious observances.

Jesus spoke out against this kind of hypocrisy, addressing the Pharisees, and also ourselves, as well.  He pointed out that when fasting, we shouldn’t be letting the whole world know in order to get their approval and commendations for our religious piety.  Rather our religious practices, such as fasting, should be for God, not man (Matthew 6:16-18). We should not fast and pray to prove we are godly. Instead we should do these in order to grow closer to God.

True worship is much more than religious ritual.  God, speaking through His prophet Isaiah, condemned the people for going through their religious rituals, yet having strife and anger with their brothers (vs. 4).  They would act pious, yet treat their fellow man cruelly. They oppressed the worker and let the poor, the widows, and the orphans go hungry. All of our fasting, church attendance, and singing in the choir means nothing to God if it lacks sincerity, if we don't reach out to others with kindness, charity, justice, and generosity.  God told His people that their fasting should also bring others a release from oppression, it should include feeding the hungry, and helping those in need (vs 6-7). Without showing concern for others we are missing a true relationship with God. How can one act pious, yet be unforgiving or committing sin? Even more important is compassion for the poor, the helpless and oppressed.

When we are obedient to God, He promises to be our rear-guard (vs. 8).  He will not only protect us from attacks on our front, He will stand behind us, protecting us from those who try to sneak up from the rear.  This is reminiscent of God protecting the Israelites when they crossed the Red Sea, and He protected them from the oncoming Egyptians (Exodus 14:19).

God promises us that when we follow Him, He will guide us continually (vs. 11).  He promises that it will be Him, not another person or an angel, but God, Himself.  The Lord said that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  He guides us continually, not just part of the time.

As we enter into the season of Lent later this week, let’s bring the Lord the type of worship that will truly honor Him, where our acts of fasting and prayer are accompanied by treating our brothers and sisters with love and kindness.  Then we can truly know that the Lord will be with us, protecting us on every side.