Fri.’s Devo - God’s Fast

Read: Isaiah 57:15-59:21; Philippians 1:1-16; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 24:9-10 God comforts the remnant who are having to go through his punishment on their nations. He promised to restore their spirit if their hearts were repentant. He would not stay angry or none of them would live. He would heal them and comfort them causing them to praise him. But those who still reject him will have no peace. They will continually cause chaos and trouble. God wanted Isaiah to trumpet the people’s sins so they could see them and repent. They lived a very hypocritical life without even realizing how bad they were. They went to church and acted like they were a righteous nation who knew God. They fasted and wondered why God didn’t notice and wasn’t impressed enough to move in their behalf. They went through the religious motions but their hearts were far from the Lord. They oppressed their workers under them and continued fighting among themselves. *** God described the kind of fast that would impress him and get his attention. It was one where they freed those wrongfully accused, they lightened the heavy yoke of work they put on their workers, they removed the chains that bound the people like taxes and interest rates and give food and clothes to the hungry and shelter to the homeless. It was also to not hide from relatives that needed help. *** Then God’s salvation would come and heal their wounds. They would go forth in godliness and the glory of the Lord would protect them. They would pray and God would quickly reply. *** God told them to remove the heavy yoke of oppression and the accusations and rumors they were spreading. Instead, they should be feeding the hungry and helping those in trouble, then their light would shine in the darkness. God would lead them, restoring their strength and making them a spiritual fountain with enough of God’s spirit to give out to others. *** They were told to keep the Sabbath day and make it a day of doing the Lord’s desires. If they honored him on that day and he would honor them. *** In Chapter 59, Isaiah continues to let them know what has kept them from hearing God’s voice and seeing his hand of deliverance. It is because of their sins. With their hands, they numbered, their lips spoke lies and corruption. No one cared about justice anymore and they lied in court. They were unproductive and violence was their trademark. They ran to do evil and rushed to commit murder. They stirred up chaos and lived in it. They didn’t have a moment of peace. *** Because the people lived in sin, they were blind, hungry, unsatisfied, and unjustified. There was no one to rescue them. They knew they had turned from God and they knew their sins but to renounce their evil would cause them to be attacked by others. (Sounds like America today.) *** There is hope! Jesus, their Redeemer was coming. He would save them and sustain them with his justice. He would put on his armor of righteousness and salvation. This he did when he came the first time but in the last days, he will clothe himself with vengeance and divine passion. He will repay his enemies for their evil and his fury will flow to the ends of the earth. People from the west and the east will glorify him. He will come to Jerusalem and buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins. This is happening in our day. *** Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippians was one of joy and tender love to a people who walked in the Spirit of Jesus. This church was known for their brotherly love for one another and Christ. Revelation 3:7-13 describes the church at Philippi. God gives them the key of David to open doors that no one can shut and to shut doors that no one can open. They had kept His word and not denied the name of Jesus. God promised to keep them from the time of testing and promised to come for them quickly. He told them to hold fast and not let any one take their crown. The overcomers would be made a pillar in the temple of God, They would have God’s name written on them and the name of Jerusalem. They will also have written on them God’s new name. *** Lord, we pray that our love will overflow more and more and that you would keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. May we live pure and blameless lives until the day of Chris’t return.