Fast for wrong reason

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading Isaiah 58:3-11 was an eye opener and a wake-up call for me. Fasting is important for a believer but not all fasting is acceptable to Yah as I shockingly found out reading Isaiah.

Fasting must be done in Yah’s time and a believer must do fasting for the right reasons.

Hear what is said in Isaiah on when and for what reasons fasting is done. Doing the fasting correct brings many blessings to a believer.

True fasting is humbling yourself and truly dedicating your fast to Yahuah, otherwise fasting is a day of simply going hungry.

Verse 3 They say, ‘Why have we fasted, and You have not seen?  Why have we afflicted our beings, and You took no note?’ “Look, in the day of your fasting you find pleasure, and drive on all your labourers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this verse the people are asking why their fast and afflicting their soul (being) is not seen or noted by Yah! Hear Yah’s answer to the peoples question in verse 3-5?

4 “Look, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wrongness. You do not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high.

5 “Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his being? Is it to bowdown his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahuah?

a)      Your fast is for your own pleasure.

b)      You fast for strife and contention (debate).

c)       You fast to strike wrongness with a fist.

d)      Your fast is not for Yah to hear you.

e)      You choose your own day to fast and afflict your soul.

f)       You bow your head, cover yourself with a sackcloth and use ashes and think this is acceptable to Yah.

6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loosen the tight cords of wrongness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to exempt the oppressed, and to break off every yoke?

These are the reasons you fast according to Yahuah.

a)      He chose a specific day for fasting – Day of Atonement.

b)      To loosen the cords of wrongness (wickedness).

c)       To undo the bands of the yoke.

d)      To free the oppressed ones.

e)      To break off every yoke you have.

Messiah also says in Matthew 11:28-30 to take His yoke as it is gentle and light. This was prophesied in Isaiah 61:1 for Messiah to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, and cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?

On top of doing the fasting correct and in Yah’s time, He asks the believer to share food and clothing (shelter) with the needy and poor (Orphans and widows).

8 “Then your light would break forth like the morning, your healing spring forth speedily. And your righteousness shall go before you, the esteem of Yahuah would be your rear guard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9-10 “Then, when you call, Yahuah would answer; when you cry, He would say,‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and the speaking of unrighteousness, if you extend your being to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted being, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness be as noon.

11 “Then Yahuah would guide you continually, and satisfy your being in drought, and strengthen your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Hear the blessings in verse 8-11 for doing the fast in Yah’s time and to look after the poor. The believer will be blessed with speedily healing, righteousness and glory shall go before you with Yah guarding you.

Yah will answer prays, once the yoke is gone, no more pointing finger, stop speaking falsehood, and helping the poor.

Yah will guide you always, satisfy your soul and make you strong. You will be blessed like a well-watered garden, fresh and a live.

Proverbs 15:29 Yahuah is far from the wrong ones, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Joel 2:12-13 “Yet even now,” declares Yahuah, “turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”And tear your heart and not your garments, and turn back to Yahuah your Elohim, for He shows favour and is compassionate, patient, and of great kindness, and He shall relent concerning the evil.