https://odb.org/MY/2023/07/09/a-cry-for-help
As we read Isaiah 58:1-9, I feel that the message is that we must be genuine in God. In those passages, the LORD was asking why the Israelites fast and yet oppressed the poor? It’s like saying why worship in church and sing songs proclaiming God’s goodness when we ourselves practice injustice whether at home or at work. Or our persona in church is one of righteousness, but we do evil when we leave church. At work, we backstab others or freely give out poison pills, and yet we are holy in church.
There must be consistency between our spiritual and natural lives. We must be the same person. We are who we are, in and out of church. We are the same person whether we are worshipping God or not. That’s why God said in Isaiah 58 that we can not fast and yet do not do something about injustice. This is because God is about freeing us from injustice. He is about setting the yoke free from the oppressed. He is about feeding the hungry. He is about giving shelter to the poor wanderer and to clothe the naked. He is not about turning away from your own flesh and blood. Of course, the LORD spoke about all these within the nation of Israel, their fellow brothers, and sisters in the nation. However, Jesus had made it generic when He came on the scene. This is no longer about Israel alone or the community in our church (in our present context) but mankind in general, regardless of race or religion and even sexual orientation. God loves everyone and wants to give everyone a chance to be a part of our family of God.
Of course, we alone can not be feeding the hungry or cloth the unclothed or shelter the wanderer. Jesus said before when Mary Magdelene poured out her bottle of perfume to wash His feet – the poor you will always have with you. Meaning to see that we as individuals can not solve the issue of poverty among the masses. But what we can do is not to be the oppressor or assist in the oppression. We must be genuine in our faith and allow God to truly transform us. We can not be two-faced or wear a mask in church or in worship. We have to meet God face to face in worship in our true self. Be real and consistent before God and before men. That my brothers and sisters in Christ is true transformation.
Ronnie's Thoughts 