Lost Sheep: Isaiah 58 and Caring for the Flock

 

Restore the Breach Part 2

Everyone loses their way at some point. 

From successful companies to close relationships and even nation states, laziness sets in and selfishness takes over. Depending on how long it goes, disaster is around the corner without a serious recommitment to principle. The Old Testament is full of examples of people that disobeyed God’s direction. A remnant remains of those who value the law of Moses and live by its codes. Prophets are sent to remind the people of their first love and put aside their selfishness for the sake of the next generation. Isaiah writes the last half of the book as a promise to the people of Judah. It’s a message from God, of prosperity and health if they start to value the things He values once again.   

American Morality

Judah's complains to God, why haven't you heard us? God answers, "In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers, indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness." (verse 3-4) The short version is that they lost their way. Their religious ceremony's are empty. The relationship is damaged.

I can’t read chapter 58 without seeing a strong parallel to the United States. Church attendance has dropped off significantly and many Christians don’t even consider serving regularly important. Nevermind the ones with no relationship to organized religion. Church attendance is only one measure of a society’s connection to faith anyway. The morality of its government (don’t laugh) and school system are also a measure. Does the innovation benefit mankind or just make people at the top wealthy? What activities do we encourage and what do we restrict? How do we deal with crime, punishment, addiction and war?

These are off the top of my head. I’m sure there are better metrics to pull from. But it shouldn’t surprise anyone that we’ve failed miserably. We’ve become consumed with our own interests to care for each other spiritually. How do I know this? Because our ceremonies are like the people of Judah. There is no heart in our ritual. We go through the motions but our energy is focused on selfish pursuits. It’s why we don’t see dramatic spiritual breakthroughs.

American Ceremony

Our world is filled with ceremonies that are void of meaning and memorials that don’t memorialize anything or anyone. American life is full of holidays, both religious and secular, that have only the scantest connection to the original meaning. A few years ago I wrote a silly piece about Monday holidays. My curmudgeon gifts are strong. We want the 3 day weekend but don’t want to memorialize the person or event. The quickest way to ignore a holiday's importance is to schedule it on a Monday. Before long, the significance of the day is overwhelmed by half-off furniture sales and 3-day weekends.

It shouldn’t surprise us that communist radicals desecrate statues, religious and secular, supposedly to make us angry. But we can’t get upset about statues and memorials we never bothered to make important. 

American Decay

In Isaiah’s day we see a population of people going through the motions of religious ceremony but ignoring the value of them. This is common in wealthy societies that have had money for generations. One generation works hard to create wealth and leave it for their offspring. The following generation grows it and begins to drift away from the values of their parents. The third generation has almost no connection to the first and seeks pleasure first. It’s not exactly like this in every society but human nature is the same across all cultures. Money and security eventually lead to decadence when unchecked by spiritual grounding in deeper meaning.

Isaiah writes to a people who observe the fast and the Sabbath without letting it change them. They’ve inverted the value of the ceremonies and put their self-interests’ ahead of God’. It’s the same with the sacraments. We take communion in church to remember the body and blood of Christ. Paul warns us not to treat such a solemn day with disrespect. Don’t “…eat and drink in an unworthy manner” or risk being judged by God. (I Corinthians 11:29) Just as in Isaiah, God warns His people to take seriously what He takes seriously. The message is the same, examine your hearts and hold them up to the standard of righteousness.

The fast isn’t the problem, neither is ceremony or memorial. Making and money and pursuing generational wealth isn’t wrong either. The problem for us, like in Isaiah’s time, is that we’ve hollowed out these days to be nothing more than marks on the calendar. Our commitment isn’t to each other. We’re used to good times, but there is a strong correlation between taking care of those around us and seeing God’s favor in our world. It’s why Isaiah says if you “extend your soul to the hungry” and focus on the next generation, you’ll be called the “Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.” (verse 12)

Conclusion

God is always looking to bring us back into alignment with His principles. In Isaiah’s day it was the prophet with a word from the Lord. After Christ we had a new covenant and a grace covering for sin. But God’s primary call to take care of each other hasn’t changed. That’s also where real spiritual growth happens. When we reorder our society along Godly principles we see His favor in our world. And best of all, we get to be a part of the restoration project. We're in serious need of repair.