Isaiah 58:6-9

Are we on the Christian path once again? Elections will come and go but those we choose to lead should share our Godly principles according to Scripture.

We are to care for the poor.

We are to care for the oppressed.

We are to care for the foreigner.

Isaiah 58:6-9

6 “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.’

Fasting and following religious rituals will not manipulate God into showing favor. He is more concerned with the motivation of the heart than the outward act. Oppressing the poor and weak of society, and burdening them with slavery, is the opposite of what they should be doing. God’s desire for social justice is a familiar theme in the prophets, especially the book of Amos.

Genuine repentance is evidenced by their behavior—how they treat the poor and hungry. Genuine repentance will lead to genuine blessing. Fasting without genuine repentance was useless Faithlife Bible.

Yoke is a metaphor for social oppression.

The poor who are cast out refers to those whose lands and houses were expropriated in payment of debts.

The light dawned with the advent of Christ. Righteousness refers to salvation. NKJ Bible.

Nehemiah 5:10 I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury!

Nehemiah 5:11 Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.”

Nehemiah 5:12 So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.”Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.