Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause - Tuesday, 4
February 2013 – Yeshayah 58: Cry aloud, restrain not, lift up thy kol (voice)
like the shofar, and preach to My people their peysha (transgression,
rebellion) and Bais Ya’akov their chattot.
2 Yet they seek Me yom yom (daily), and for the da’as of My
Drakhim they seem eager, like a Goy (Nation) that doeth tzedakah, like one that
did not forsake mishpat Elohav; they ask of Me the mishpeteitzedek; they seem
eager for kirvat Elohim (getting close to G-d, revival).
3 Why have we done a tzom, say they, and Thou seest not? Why
have we afflicted nafsheinu, and Thou takest no notice? See, in your yom tzom
ye find chefetz (pleasure, personal advantage) and exploit all your toilers.
4 See, ye undergo a tzom for grievance and strife, and to strike
with the fist of resha; ye shall not do a tzom as ye do today, to make your
voice to be heard on marom.
5 Is such as this a tzom that I have chosen? Merely for adam to
afflict his nefesh? To bow down his rosh like a bulrush, and to spread
sackcloth and efer (ashes) under him? Wilt thou call this a tzom, and a yom
ratzon (a day of acceptance, an acceptable day) unto Hashem?
6 Is not this the tzom that I have chosen? To loose the
chartzubbot resha (chains of wickedness, injustice), to undo the aguddot motah
(bindings of the yoke bar), and to let the retzutzim (oppressed ones) go as
chafeshim (free ones), and that ye break kol motah (every yoke of oppression)?
7 Is it not paras lechem (breaking bread of thine, i.e., serving
food) to the hungry, and that thou bring the homeless aniyyim (poor) to thy
bais? When thou seest the arom (naked), that thou cover him with clothing; and
that thou hide not thyself from thine own basar (flesh and blood, kinspeople)?
8 Then shall thy light break forth like the shachar (dawn), and
thine healing titzmach (shall spring forth; Tzemach) speedily; and thy tzedek
shall go before thee; the kavod Hashem shall be thy rearguard.
9 Then shalt thou call, and Hashem shall answer; thou shalt cry
for help, and He shall say, Hineni! If thou remove from the midst of thee the
motah (yoke), the pointing of the etzba (finger [of contempt]) and speaking
aven (evil, lashon hora);--Orthodox Jewish Bible
Betsy, our associate for hospitality, asked if she could talk
with me. She was visibly upset. "I think that I cost the church some key
members," she said. "Mrs.______ came in to register her daughters for
the youth retreat. The deadline was two days ago, and we could usually have
accommodated her, but the registration is full."
"Don't you know who we are?" challenged the irate
mother. "We are probably the biggest givers in the church. We surely
deserve some favors." "But," replied Betsy, "I would have
to tell two other youth who have signed up early that they can't come."
"Do what you have to do," was the reply. "We are very active
members."
I immediately called this mother and said that I needed to talk
with her. I sat at the kitchen table. They were very nice people and good
friends. I began, "I heard something today that I can't believe came from
your mouth. Did you really say that we should put your daughters on our retreat
list ahead of two other youth? Did you really say that you should get extra
favors because you give a lot of money to the church? That is not why you give
to the church, is it?"
The mother started to cry. She realized that this was not the
kind of person she wanted to be. We hugged, shared a prayer, and the matter was
over.
Isaiah had a similar problem. He spoke to the congregation,
"Did you really say, 'Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble
ourselves, but you do not notice?'" "Do you really come to the
Temple, give your offerings, and say your prayers to give you an advantage over
others?"
What does God have to say? "Is not this the fast I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice: ...Is it not to share your bread with the
hungry?"
The Gospel for this Sunday reminds us that we worship and pray
and share our wealth, because we are the salt of the earth.
Remind us, O Lord, as we prepare for worship, that we praise you
not for points. Let our salt be restored for the sake of others. In Jesus'
name, Amen.
Hubert Nelson
Eden Prairie, Minn.
Master of Divinity , 1962
Isaiah 58:1 Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like
a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their
sins.
2 Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as
if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the
ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to
draw near to God.
3 "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble
ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on
your fast day, and oppress all your workers.
4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with
a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on
high.
5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it
to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will
you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of
injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to
break every yoke?
7 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 them, and not
to hide yourself from your own kin?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your
healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator 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
for help, and he will say, Here I am.—New Revised Standard Version
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Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55108 United States
(651)641-3456
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