Exploring the Scripture

Last week’s scripture passage challenged us to move beyond ritual sacrifices to a lifestyle of justice, kindness, and humility. This week’s reading calls us to move beyond ritual fasting to avoid hurtful behaviors and attitudes. Chapter 58 begins with God’s call to the prophet to speak with trumpet-like clarity and intensity. God accuses the people of hypocrisy. They claim they are righteous and worthy of God’s mercy because of their ritual fasting. But they fast and repent only to advance their own business.

Today’s passage was written after the Babylonian exiles returned to Israel. They were wealthy and confident, with the authority of King Cyrus behind them. They found a poor remnant of the old Israel still occupying a devastated, war-ravaged land. Relations between the two groups of people often brought injustice, despair, and oppression.

The traditional days of fasting were supposed to remind the people of Israel of their past oppression of the poor and the need to repent. The Israelites believed God had punished them with conquest and exile because they acted unjustly toward their people. Fasting and repentance would prove their righteousness. Then God would restore both their land and their former glory. But in this passage, the people are bewildered. “Why do we fast…but you do not notice?” Why not?

The prophetic voice answers in clear, ringing tones that the people fight among themselves, violence erupts, and those who fast make a show of their righteousness and act in a spirit of self-aggrandizement. Business continues as usual. The rich oppress those who are poor and bind those who are outcasts. Such behavior defeats the spirit of fasting. The prophet defines true fasting in words that foreshadow Jesus’ mission in Luke 4. True fasting is justice, freeing captives, and breaking the yokes that oppress people.

Those who “fast” in this way will bring light and healing to the world. They will be righteous, filled with God’s glory (presence). They will pray and be heard. They will be like a watered garden, revitalizing the community. The Lord will guide them and be with them continually—the greatest promise possible.

This last promise ensures the passage will not be understood in a works-righteousness way. The scripture passage is not saying that we can bring about our salvation and glory by creating justice, equality, and relief for those who are poor. However, by truly fasting from oppression, injustice, pride, and self-aggrandizement, we will encounter the Divine Presence more intimately and walk more closely in faith. God will provide the salvation, righteousness, and guidance that complete the promise.

In the closing verse, the phrase “repairer of the breach” is worth comment. In a city still struggling with collapsed walls, temple rubble, and broken streets, the repairers of the breach could be those who rebuild the physical Jerusalem. But for a people divided, accusing one another, and lying, a “repairer of the breach” is a peacemaker and reconciler. It is someone who bridges the gap between diverse peoples to create unity and mutual respect. All God’s people are called to be repairers of the breach, and not those who add to the widening breaches between cultures and subcultures.

Faith Unfiltered Podcast

Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith consider how this week's scripture connects to our lives today.

LISTEN

Central Ideas

1. A common attitude among faithful people is “God, I have been faithful, and yet you have not given me what I prayed for.” Faith is not a weapon to control God or life.
2. God calls us to fast—that is, refrain from— injustice, oppression, callous attitudes, and selfishness.
3. Those who act with justice, mercy, compassion, and kindness revitalize the community and deepen their relationship with God.
4. As repairers of the breach we strive to bridge cultures, heal rifts and divisions, and find common ground with those who think or believe differently from us.

Questions to Consider