Large Group #1: Isaiah 58

Welcome back to school. I hope you all had a fruitful first day of classes :)

Today Tim shared about Isaiah 58, which focuses on "true fasting", ie. serving others. After his sharing, we had some discussion. I'll include a little bit in the blogpost preview about what he talked about, and then you should read on to find out the rest :)

Many of us make New Year’s resolutions. Often these could be such things as staying in shape, reading the Bible more, or being more diligent in our work. These goals are good things. But we often miss something that is more important.

In Isaiah 58, we see that the people of Israel have been very religious. They seek God daily, asking him for wisdom with prayer and fasting. But rather than being transformed by God, they have used the trappings of religion to salve their consciences, so that they do not feel guilty about mistreating others.

God wants something better from us. John Piper, in his book A Hunger for God breaks this chapter into 7 commands, and 7 promised blessings.

Commands:

1) Bring freedom rather than slavery, breaking the bonds of oppression (vs 6, vs 9b).

2) Feed the hungry (vs 7a).

3) House the homeless (vs 7b).

4) Clothe the naked (vs 7c).

5) Show compassion and sympathy (vs 7d).

6) Stop showing disrespect for those in need (vs 9c).

7) Give our very selves (vs 10a).

Blessings:

1) Your life will be full of light rather than darkness (vs 8a, 10b).

2) You will be physically strengthened (vs 8b, 11c).

3) God will be present with you, and will hear your prayers (vs 8c, vs 9a).

4) God will guide you continually (vs 11a).

5) God will satisfy you deeply (vs 11b).

6) God will make you a watered garden, and a spring of water (vs 11d).

7) God will restore what is crumbled and broken (vs 12).

How can we fulfill these commands?

Grace says that for #1 there’re soup kitchens and food donations (spending the remnants of your debal) that Caltech Y organizes. For #6, just treating everyone the same, regardless of their appearance or conduct or what they do. For instance, you wouldn’t treat someone better just because they go to church more often than another person. Treating everyone with equal respect can make a big (positive) difference.

Miceala says for #4 and #7, that’s like being a health ad or UCC (except of course you’re not barred from doing so if you’re not a health ad or UCC, you can still help people out and show compassion).

Piper mentions a watered garden and a spring of water. Watered garden indicates that God [ministers to/ feeds] us, while spring of water indicates that we can then minister to others.

Piper also mentions a story about a person who had cancer, and he went on a mission’s trip on another continent, and the doctors discouraged him from it (because if something happens while you’re there, there’s no one to help you!). But then after he had gone, his cancer was gone. Tim thought it was cool that God really does heal you.

Grace and Robb mention that if you forget God, it’s so easy to view your faith as a set of do’s and don’t’s (which was what the Israelites were doing) consisting of those 7 (or 8) points. Then it becomes just a huge burden and not joyful anymore.

It’s not a problem to do these things and expect to be rewarded for it. And it doesn’t make it any less meaningful or less important if you enjoy doing it; in fact it makes it more meaningful. Rewards ought not to be your sole motivation (that rewards list should not be your only motivation). And you might do all these things and still see not all those rewards show up, so remember it.

Is this indicative of something like karma? (That doesn’t seem biblical…?)

No, it’s not like there’s some direct formulaic change (ie. you pay $5 and get a loaf of bread). God knows where your heart is when you do such things.

How does not eating food tie into this?

Whatever fun activity you have, if you choose between that and serving someone else, that’s a form of fasting. The food itself is not the main point (eg. some people have health issues that will not allow them to go on without food).