Isaiah: Spiritual Motions. Selfish Motives.

Isaiah 58

Ted Haggard started New Life Church with twenty-two people meeting in the basement of his home. Twenty years later, the church had grown to fourteen thousand people!  Over three hundred like-minded congregations joined a network Haggard started called The Association of Life-Giving Churches. In his book, The Life-Giving Church, Haggard told the story of standing on the Mount of Olives in Israel, where he felt the Holy Spirit speak to him. He wrote, “Apostolic power has blessed me. My only problems are with me—not with the enemy, not with circumstances, not with people.”[1]

Haggard delivered powerful messages on morality, biblical marriage, family values, and what it meant to walk with Jesus. In 2006, he became the president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

However, Haggard’s image and messaging did not match what he was doing behind the scenes. For several years, he paid Mike Jones, a male prostitute, for sexual favors and drugs. Finally, Jones went public. He told ABC News:

I had to expose the hypocrisy. He is in the position of influence of millions of followers, and he's preaching against gay marriage. But behind everybody's back, [he's] doing what he's preached against. It made me angry that here's someone preaching against gay marriage and going behind the scenes having gay sex.[2]

We are disgusted by hypocrisy revealed in others, but today’s passage has an underlying theme highlighting how we all can be guilty of this type of behavior…having outward show without inward sincerity. Let’s dig in.

God told the people of Judah that they looked impressive on the outside. Notice all their religious credentials.

Isaiah 58:2
Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. 

The first part of this verse describes spiritual practices that are notable to me. Daily seeking God and delighting to know his ways are significant pursuits…until God explains that it’s all for show. They do these things “as if they were a nation that did righteousness.”

These people are going through the spiritual motions based on selfish motives. They ask, “Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?” (Isa. 58:3). Do you hear what they are complaining about? “God, I am going to church and singing the songs. I’ve even been listening to Christian radio! Now bless me!” They were doing their religious practices to “seek [their] own pleasure” (Isa. 58:3). The Almighty was their “genie,” not their God.

As proof of their spiritual pretense, God pointed out that, as his people were fasting, they were also fighting!  They argued with each other and “hit with a wicked fist” (Isa. 58:4a). They were treating their workers unfairly (Isa. 58:3) and still expecting God to bless them. God explains that his plan for fasting was purposed to demonstrate humility and show dependence (Isa. 58:5). Their version of fasting “will not make your voice to be heard on high” (Isa. 58:4). God, in essence, said, “Seriously, can you call what you have done a fast that I would accept?” (Isa. 58:5).

God states that he has a different set of standards regarding the spiritual discipline of fasting. This “ritual” was purposed to change a person’s heart and lead them into meaningful service.

Isaiah 58:6-7 [Anchor Point]
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 

The people were participating in one spiritual discipline (for selfish reasons) while neglecting other commandments like confession: “loose the bonds of wickedness,” love: “undo the straps of the yoke,” justice: “let the oppressed go free,” and compassion: “break every yoke.” They fasted but did not share bread with the hungry, their homes with the homeless, or their clothes with the naked.

If they would turn their hearts to God in sincere love and worship, if their lives turned from being about themselves to being about God, then true spiritual blessings would follow. God would give them spiritual guidance and healing (Isa. 58:8). He would hear and answer their prayers (Isa. 58:9) and provide spiritual renewal (Isa. 58:10). God would guide and satisfy their desires (Isa. 58:11). He promised to bless them when they returned to rebuild Jerusalem. “Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in” (Isa. 58:12).

Everyone would see God’s work and presence in their lives because “your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard” (Isa. 58:8).

This chapter closes with God saying, in effect, “You brought up fasting. Let me talk about the Sabbath.”

Isaiah 58:13-14
“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 

Bible scholar John Martin states that, in the Old Testament, observing the Sabbath and following the rules for the Sabbath demonstrated a believer’s personal relationship with God. Obedience to the Sabbath regulations showed faithfulness, the importance of worship, and that a person depended on God to bless them spiritually and materially.^[3]

So, some questions for all of us (including me) to consider:

• Are we going through the spiritual motions without spiritual sincerity?
• Do we argue on the way to church, then raise our voices in corporate worship?
• Do we care for those in spiritual and physical need?
• Do we share our resources with others?

I could add to the list, but I think you can add your personal questions for evaluation as well. Bottom line is this—God says, “You shall take delight in the LORD and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth.” That sounds like an amazing spiritual ride to me!

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Isaiah 58, focusing on our Anchor Point—Isaiah 58:6-7. 
Reflect on the spiritual action points that God sets forth in these verses.

Talking to God:  Are there any areas where you are going through the motions in your obedience and worship to the Lord? 

Have Questions?
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Every day is a day of spiritual renewal as we follow hard after Jesus.