Isaiah 58 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Isaiah 58.

Meditate on verse 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?

Isaiah 58 is a soul-searching chapter. God spoke to people who used religious ritual in hopes of manipulating Him to give them what they wanted. They gave up eating food so God would notice them. However, God knew what was in their hearts; the people fasted to find their own desires, not God’s. Fasting made them “hangry,” so they were mean to their workers, striking them with a wicked fist, and creating contention and strife (Isaiah 58:3-4).

God gave His definition of fasting in Isaiah 58. Fasting is giving up wickedness. Fasting is freeing and loosening. Fasting is not depriving yourself of something to make God feel sorry for you in order to get you what you want. God’s fast is:

1.     Loosen the bonds of wickedness

2.     Break every yoke

3.     Let the oppressed go free

4.     Share your bread with the hungry

5.     Bring the homeless poor into your house

6.     Cover the naked

7.     Do not hide from yourself – get honest about yourself before God

Who or what in your life does God want you to give freedom? What could you fast; what could you give up that would bring life to those around you? Do you need to fast anger, abusive speech, and selfishness?

Get honest before the LORD and pray Isaiah 58:9-11 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help ________ and me remove the yoke from our midst.

Let us stop pointing the finger and speaking wickedness.

When we do, then You will answer when we call.

We will cry, and You will say, ‘Here I am.’

Help us give ourselves to the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted.

Then let our light rise in the darkness

and our gloom become like midday.

LORD, continually guide us

and satisfy our desire in scorched places.

Give strength to our bones. 

Let us be like a watered garden

and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

In Your name, Jesus~”

From The Watchman on the Wall by Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell