Good morning! I prayed about what the Lord wanted me to share with you this morning and he led me to Isa 58. I wondered, “Why, Isa 58!” So I started to study the text. Maybe you can help me out with why this might be relevant for us as the family of Christ Lutheran Church?
Let me set the context for you. It’s about 600 BC. The northern kingdom of Israel has been wiped out by the Assyrians. The southern kingdom of Judah is in decline, politically, morally, spiritually. The Lord has been sending his prophets to remind his people of the calling they received through the blessing of Abraham. “I called you into existence for a reason. I blessed you because I wanted to bless the whole world through you. But you’ve been ignoring me, persecuting my prophets, going your own way!”
So the Lord sends Isaiah with another message. By the way, not long after this, Mannaseh, the king of Judah had Isaiah sawn in half while he was still alive. When we turn away from God, this is no limit to our depravity. Read this text and ask yourself, “What does this mean for the “nation” of Christ Lutheran Church? How might you paraphrase this text for our faith community, especially the parts that are underlined!
Shout the message! Don't hold back. Say to my people Israel: You've sinned! You've turned against the LORD. Day after day, you worship him and seem eager to learn his teachings. You act like a nation that wants to do right by obeying his laws. You ask him about justice, and say you enjoy worshiping the LORD.
You wonder why the LORD pays no attention when you go without eating and act humble. But on those same days that you give up eating, you think only of yourselves and abuse your workers. You even get angry and ready to fight. No wonder God won't listen to your prayers!
Do you think the LORD wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what he wants on a day of worship? I'll tell you what it really means to worship the LORD.
Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives.
Then your light will shine like the dawning sun, and you will quickly be healed. Your honesty will protect you as you advance, and the glory of the LORD will defend you from behind. When you beg the LORD for help, he will answer, "Here I am!" Don't mistreat others or falsely accuse them or say something cruel. Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless.
Then your light will shine in the dark; your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun. The LORD will always guide you and provide good things to eat when you are in the desert. He will make you healthy. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water or like a stream that never runs dry. You will rebuild those houses left in ruins for years; you will be known as a builder and repairer of city walls and streets.
Not many years after this prophesy was given, the Babylonians came and destroyed Jerusalem. They tore down the walls and destroyed the homes. The Bible describes sin as trespass. We trespass the boundaries God has put in place to assure each person’s honor and personnel autonomy. Sin trespasses into our brother’s space, not only by destroying his stuff but his honor. God’s purpose is to restore these boundaries and to use us, his people as agents in the world to do this. This means covering the same of the naked with robe of honor. Feeding the hungry for love, with acceptance. Setting those bound by the sinful attitudes of others free. Spend some time thinking about how God is calling you to do this in the context of the relationships you have with others.
