We “be”-come, to do, but it is also true that we do, to be-come - our attitudes and actions: the litmus of our worship - the perpetual renewing of one’s mind and putting to death what belongs to the flesh (Romans 12; Colossians 3). Blessed are those who mourn sin and thirst for righteousness - sincere hearts given to God in worship will bear the fruit of righteousness and desire to bring that righteousness forward regardless of the outcome. (Matthew 5:3-10)
Here it is: Isaiah 58
Isaiah 58:6 “fist of wickedness” - as violence and crime against civil law - see and grieve lawlessness
“...break every yoke…” - bands, heavy, what enslaves - to minister to those crushed -
Is 42:1-9 - injustice and sin
58:7 “...when you ... share your food with the hungry… provide shelter… clothing
Matthew 25:31-40
The right and good transition from me and mine - out of what I have received from God - mercy, to you for your sake… the principle of “if, then”: when you do this, then this will be. (Ro 12)
If…
58:8 “...then your light in shine the darkness… it will break forth like the dawn…”
Isaiah 42:16 “...I will turn the darkness into light… and make rough places smoothed - as God promised
Luke 1:78-79 Jesus is the fulfillment “because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn has visited to shine on those who live in darkness…”
Matthew 5:14-15 “...you are the light of the world… set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone…” now we are the carriers of said light, being light: not under a bushel, on on the lampstand
Philippians 2:14-15 - Not hidden in arguing and grumbling, but in fact, we are to be “...blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, THEN you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold out the word of life…”
Then…
And “...then your healing will quickly appear…”, be realized, come - very often our most profound healing comes from our bringing and rendering aid to others a, our from comforting others.
2Corinthians 1:3-5 3“Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”
“...then your righteousness will go before you…” - the joy of your salvation, your testimony of being a child of God - that of Christlikeness - and that reputation getting there before you do - what’s in a name??
“...and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard…” God will be glorified and we will be satisfied - as our Father guards our way, our flank
“...then you will call… you will cry for help… and He will say: Here am I.” James 4
58:9 “...If you do away with the pointing finger and malicious talk…” - bad-wishing upon others, holding others in contempt - Galatians 5:16
And instead, “...and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed”
“...then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday” - as part of your own healing, you will see the path righteousness marked out for you, the light unto that path that leads you.
Psalm 18:28 “...you, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”
Ps 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”
Ps 119:105 “Your word is a lamp unto, light, on my path”
Proverbs 6:22-23 “22When you walk, (my commands) will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. 23For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light…”
58:10 “...and if you spend yourselves on behalf…” humble yourselves on behalf of the humiliated - James 1; Romans 12; Galatians 6; 1Peter 5
“…then your light will rise in the darkness…” you, and Jesus in you, again, will shine - the testimony of God’s grace to you will speak through your humility and service, your seeing others as better than you - without jealousy or envy or selfish ambition or vain conceit -
Philippians 2:1-5
58:11 then… “...He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land…” -
Psalm 1:1-3 1Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
Ps 23
And… “your people will rebuild the ruins… raise up the foundations… you will be called the repairer of broken walls, restorer of streets with dwellings…”