The kind of fasting I have chosen
“3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,”
In the Old Testament, fasting was primarily used as an expression of repentance. Repentance means recognizing one's own weakness, acknowledging one's shortcomings, and reflecting on specific actions. This act goes beyond mere self-reflection; it involves looking at oneself before God. While humans can reflect on their own without God, the essence of faith is in examining oneself before God.
The fasting practiced by the Israelites, however, was only an external form of fasting. Even while fasting, they did not truly humble their hearts. Verse 6 shows that the kind of fasting that pleases God is not just abstaining from food, but an action that goes beyond personal piety—it involves looking out for others and alleviating their suffering.
Fasting is not just about fulfilling a personal religious duty. It involves interrupting our daily routines, letting go of our self-centered thoughts and actions, and adopting a way of life that looks toward others. Fasting is not only about cutting off my own needs but also about breaking away from the way I have been living, moving toward the life that pleases God.
Today, as we experience the wonderful mercy of God, may it be a time where we fully offer our lives to Him. As we seek God more deeply and pray in His presence, let us listen carefully to what He is saying to us, and put into practice one thing He calls us to do.
Prayer: Lord, we seek to become more like You, the Lord of love and justice, and we confess that our lives can only be filled with joy, wholeness, and faith when they are connected to You. If my heart is filled with anxiety, desires, or fear, I pray that You reveal it to me, and grant me the courage to care for those You love and the people around me. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
Devotional content is available on the Our Daily Bread website.