“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 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, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 56:6-11 NKJV
Lord of all,
You are indeed our guide, strength and provision. Isaiah brings the positive with the correction. How like You Father God. You lay out choices before us and it is up to us to choose. If this part of Isaiah was written later, Isaiah reminds them that token thanksgiving and worship is seen for what it is. Their fasting was up front while feasting behind closed doors? But nothing is hidden from You Lord God.
And when I read this list of challenges I can only be overwhelmed. But You did not expect them to solve all of life’s problems. Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you.” (Matthew 26:11). He too like His Father in Heaven was speaking about doing what is good and right when You see it. What is in front of us and we can do something about. It is not always about avoiding doing the wrong thing. I think the church of England call it the sin of omission? Things we didn’t do but could have done for good. But in this passage we gather they are doing the wrong and not doing the right either.
I am glad that Jesus says just worry about getting it right today (Matthew 6:34). I like keeping ‘to do’ lists.But things get carried over and moved around and for the future. I hope I allow You Lord God to set my daily priorities, direct me where you want me and be able to change my plans if it is Your Will. And to be the same indoors as I am in public. Or is it the same in public as I am in private . . .
In Jesus name I pray, Amen
Worship Wednesday 30th September 2026
I could have chosen ‘One day at a time sweet Jesus’ or many other beautiful applicable hymns. But I found this. I often feel overwhelmed by all there is to do and all there is I cannot do. So to just sit in His presence, and then be encouraged just to do what I can in His strength.
I could not find the words for this but they are on the video.