“This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’
“If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people’s sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.”
-Isaiah 58:6-12
Heather EV says:
Until I realized it was from the Bible, I thought it was a new song you had written.
Caitlin says:
One of my favorite passages. Which version is this? I haven’t heard this one before, but I love it.
Kristie says:
Is that from The Message, or is that the Groves Paraphrase? Like it, either way!
We are THAT family says:
My MOST favorite passage (started chewing on it before Africa) in my MOST favorite version.
So powerful.
Robn says:
Thanks. I needed to see this today.
Ken Summerlin says:
And some people say that the Bible is no longer relevant? It doesn’t get much more relevant than this.
Jackalynn says:
Was about to say hope that’s not a new song you just wrote because if it is you’re so gonna get crucified for it. But thank God it’s just in the Bible so we can ignore it and all go about our normal lives. Geeze I’m being cynical tonight.
Michelle says:
I think I need to print this out and put it on my fridge, my mirrors, my work place, just to remind me.
semmie says:
Wow. You know, wow. Don’t you love those moments when you read Scripture and something leaps off of the page (or in this case, the blog) as if God is saying, “Hey! Remember that thing you were talking about? This is it! Right here! You want to know what to do next? Right here!”
Wow. I just…wow. Shaun, I thought God was not going to say anything to me today after the frustrations of my overnight and morning prayers. And here He is…showing up in your blog, showing me clearly where I have failed to submit myself to Him. And how can I complain that He hasn’t “shown up” or “answered prayers” when it is MY sin that separates us?
But…I don’t mind His rebuke and discipline. That just means…He still loves me.
He still loves me.
Thanks, Shaun. Thank you for posting this.
Meredith Dunn says:
That’s a super clear-cut call out to the church and the people that claim to be a part of it.
Talk about a gut check.
Thanks for sharing this verion, Shaun.
Karen Barnes says:
I’ve never read this version either. But this passage keeps coming up for me. What version is this?
Thanks for sharing!