Isaiah 58;6-14 Good News Translation (GNT)
True Fasting
6 “The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. 7 Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.
8 “Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. 9 When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond.
“If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; 10 if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. 11 And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry. 12 Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses.”
The Reward for Keeping the Sabbath
13 The Lord says, “If you treat the Sabbath as sacred and do not pursue your own interests on that day; if you value my holy day and honor it by not traveling, working, or talking idly on that day, 14 then you will find the joy that comes from serving me. I will make you honored all over the world, and you will enjoy the land I gave to your ancestor, Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Thank You, O LORD, that You have spoken to us. Twenty fold rewards is what I see in Your precious word:
1-My favor will shine on you like the morning sun
2-your wounds will be quickly healed.
3-I will always be with you to save you
4-My presence will protect you on every side.
5-When you pray, I will answer you.
6-When you call to me, I will respond.
7-put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word
8-give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need
9-the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon
10-I will always guide you
11-And satisfy you with good things.
12-I will keep you strong and well.
13-You will be like a garden that has plenty of water,
14-like a spring of water that never goes dry
15-Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations.
16-You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses.
17-treat the Sabbath as sacred and do not pursue your own interests on that day; value my holy day and honor it by not traveling, working, or talking idly on that day
18-find the joy that comes from serving me.
19-I will make you honored all over the world
20-you will enjoy the land I gave to your ancestor, Jacob.
Thank You, Lord, for You have spoken. May we have ears to hear and eyes to see and the will to follow You and Your Holy Word.
In Jesus name. Amen