Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading

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February 1, 2023
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 58:1–12

Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.

“Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. (NRSV)

Reflection

“Yet day after day they seek me. . . ‘Why do we fast, but you do not see?’”

Today’s verses make me think of myself in my younger years when I wanted so badly to be “good,” but mostly made myself and others miserable in the attempt. I needed to learn through example, over time, what it meant to try to live a life centered around God, all the many ways that might look like.

When I read this passage I think of teaching. God, through Isaiah, answering (God does see, God does notice): Look, you’re missing the mark and, in fact, causing harm. This is not what I wish. But I will tell you what is.

And then the glory of the answer. “Is this not the fast that I choose?” Freeing others from injustice and oppression. Feeding the hungry, housing and clothing those without. And in return, the Lord will guide you continually, and you shall be like a watered garden. Your ruins shall be rebuilt. You will be healed and help others towards wholeness.

Prayer

Gracious God, in this season of Epiphany, may we keep ourselves open to your revelation, open to your teaching and wisdom. May we turn ourselves ever more towards you and seek to keep your ways of restoration and healing. Amen.

Written by Simon Crow, Program Manager for Discipleship and Small Group Ministry

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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