Just call me a repairer of the breach

Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary c. The Sabbath People (58:1–14)

Light: the first blessing here is clarity in life’s darknesses and perplexities. Light is not related to ‘dawn’, as in verse 8, but to darkness, those occasions when we do not know which way to turn, when troubles close in around us. Guide interprets the imagery of light in darkness. Our experience may well continue to be darkness, and we step falteringly into it as best we know, but the reality is divine guidance; he does not suffer our foot to slip (Ps. 121:3). The second promised blessing is of timely supply: sun-scorched (116) is found only here, but is related to √ṣāḥaḥ, ‘to be white’ (Lam. 4:7); hence the adjective ‘bare’ (Ezek. 24:7), ‘unprotected’ (or ‘exposed’, Neh. 4:13). We are not told what satisfaction the Lord will give but when and where he will give it—when everything seems bleak, when we are vulnerable. In such a time he will strengthen your frame, give durability in the face of harsh demands. Thirdly, there is the blessing of fresh, incoming resource and vitality, like water brought for the garden (11d), but, balancing the ministry of the watering-can, there is the spring, an unfailing internal fountain (11e; John 4:13). Fourthly come the blessings of restoration (rebuild, 12) and continuance (Dwellings), recovery from past disaster (ancient ruins), provision for future secure living (Walls … Streets). This could, of course, refer to building and restoration work after the return from Babylon but, alongside the pictures of light (10), the traveller in the sun-scorched land (11) and the garden (11), this too is more likely to be a picture, but highly relevant to Isaiah’s community which knew the devastations described in 1:6–9

The church has faced enormous pressure in this age. We don’t know how to have church these days. We look around and church attendance is decreasing. The world is pulling people away. The concept of church or how we do church faces its greatest relevance challenge in recent history.

History will tell us that the children of Isreal faced the same challenges. opens following a scaving indictment on Israel and its leaders the second half of Chapter 56 in Chapter 57 . The leaders have become silent the righteous man perishes and no even cares.

Have we ourselves gone to sleep at the wheel. Have we become accustomed to church as usual and forgotten what really pleases God. Has our fasting been in vain because we have failed to do the thing that really please The Lord.

“If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”c

Its the opening of Chapter 56 that causes us to think 56 Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.

“Keep justice, and do righteousness,

for soon my salvation will come,

and my righteousness be revealed.

2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

and the son of man who holds it fast,

who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it,

and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

So its here in Chapter 58 we must decide if we will be repairer of the breach. What is a breach pe res. This word literally means there is a gap! A separation . Looking closly its an act of breaking a law, agreement or code of conduct. a break in relations.

Can you see the breach? With that breach the enemy can come in and attack. Yet today has we leave the 100 anniversary year and head towards a new horizon we shall be called repairer of the breach!

For too long we have walked along the ruins of society and our communities and shook our heads pointed our fingers but have not tried to rebuild what was torn down or repair what is broken! Its time for us to act ! who is with me? Who can say I want to be a repairer of the breach. Its in order by the way. For For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”c If it does not start with us who will it begin with?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”c

Isaiah challenges us to day to restore, revive, reinvigorate our communities, our churches and our lives.

Yet it can’t be lip talk. It must be serious consideration. Are you doing what is pleasing the Lord? We will close out this year in Isaiah to help us understand how to please The Lord and not ourselves!

The fast that the children of Israel were performing had fell short. It lacked real humility. It had an outward appearance of fasting, contriteness but was not authentic. We will examine more closely later but let me focus your attention to verse 2 and 3 Yet they seek me daily

and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.

as if they were a nation that did righteousness

and did not forsake the judgment of their God;

they ask of me righteous judgments;

they delight to draw near to God.

3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’

Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’

Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,

and oppress all your workers.

In all there efforts the were missing the key ingredient. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Until we seek God the right way we will feel like the children of Israel who said why have we fasted and you you have have not seen it? Its a shame to go through worship and God does not take notice. It like going through the motions. If that’s what you are doing then you wasting your time.

We need worship that gets the Lord’s attention! They ask the question why have we humbled ourselves and you dis not take knowledge. Well i have a truth for them: They did not really humble themselves. Humbling one selves “The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is” (Phillips Brooks).

So we have to be repairers of the breach! Wouldn’t you like to build something up than to tear it down? So how do we do that? Its verses 6 thru 11 that gives us a clear picture of what needs to be done.

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

to loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the straps 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 him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

when you see the naked, to cover him,

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness 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, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you take away the yoke from your midst,

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

11 And the LORD will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.

Point one Free some folks

Verse 6 to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to break every yoke?

If we are followers of Christ this only makes sense! Jesus said, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. ).

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

That’s actually translated to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

We need to help folks get free. We watch people burdened, oppressed, and captured and instead of showing them the way we add some bricks to their load, push them down some more or add another lock on their situation. If you not gonna help me please don’t hurt me!

The goal is to remove the yoke the undue burden we put on others as the yoke that was put on oxen to keep them together to plow. The yoke became a symbol of the owner-owned, master slave lord subject relationship. Removal of yokes, pointing of fingers, and the speaking wickedness yet the proverb writer says in

12 A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, 13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, 14 with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; 15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

goes about with crooked speech,

13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,

points with his finger,

14 with perverted heart devises evil,

continually sowing discord;

15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

We need feed them

Verse 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; hen you see the naked, to cover him,

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him,

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? ().

(). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

We have a responsibility to help those who are less fortunate. What this verse 10 says 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday. We are to be the light. This is the crux of Social Justice work. What jesus was about. When I was hungry did you feed me when i wa naked did you clothe me? What you done unto to the least of them you done unto me.

There are some blessing tied to this

Light: the first blessing here is clarity in life’s darknesss and perplexities. Light is not related to ‘dawn’, as in verse 8, but to darkness, those occasions when we do not know which way to turn, when troubles close in around us. Guide interprets the imagery of light in darkness. Our experience may well continue to be darkness, and we step falteringly into it as best we know, but the reality is divine guidance; he does not suffer our foot to slip ().

The second promised blessing is of timely supply: How many know the Lord will supply? Here in this chapter the writer said he will satisfy your desires in scorched places. This sun-scorched (116) is found only here, but ‘to be white’ ();or in ‘bare’ (), ‘unprotected’ We are not told what satisfaction the Lord will give but when and where he will give it—when everything seems bleak, when we are vulnerable. In such a time he will strengthen your frame, give durability in the face of harsh demands.

We are not told what satisfaction the Lord will give but when and where he will give it—when everything seems bleak, when we are vulnerable. In such a time he will strengthen your frame, give durability in the face of harsh demands. Thirdly, there is the blessing of fresh, incoming resource and vitality, like water brought for the garden (11d), but, balancing the ministry of the watering-can, there is the spring, an unfailing internal fountain (11e; ). Fourthly come the blessings of restoration (rebuild, 12) and continuance (Dwellings), recovery from past disaster (ancient ruins), provision for future secure living (Walls … Streets). This could, of course, refer to building and restoration work after the return from Babylon but, alongside the pictures of light (10), the traveller in the sun-scorched land (11) and the garden (11), this too is more likely to be a picture, but highly relevant to Isaiah’s community which knew the devastations described in 1:6–9

Thirdly, there is the blessing of fresh, incoming resource and vitality, like water brought for the garden (11d), but, balancing the ministry of the watering-can, there is the spring, an unfailing internal fountain .

Fourthly come the blessings of restoration (rebuild, 12) and continuance (Dwellings), recovery from past disaster (ancient ruins), provision for future secure living (Walls … Streets). This could, of course, refer to building and restoration work after the return from Babylon but, alongside the pictures of light (10), the traveller in the sun-scorched land (11) and the garden (11), this too is more likely to be a picture, but highly relevant to Isaiah’s community which knew the devastations described in 1:6–9

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Humility, Test of

“The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is” (Phillips Brooks).

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Humility

The story is told of two brothers who grew up on a farm. One went away to college, earned a law degree, and became a partner in a prominent law firm in the state capital. The other brother stayed on the family farm. One day the lawyer came and visited his brother, the farmer. He asked, “Why don’t you go out and make a name for yourself and hold your head up high in the world like me.” The brother pointed and said, “See that field of wheat over there? Look closely. Only the empty heads stand up. Those that are well filled always bow low.”

Said differently, “The branch that bears the most fruit is bent the lowest to the ground.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the straps 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 him,

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness 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, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you take away the yoke from your midst,

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

11 And the LORD will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the straps 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 him,

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness 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, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you take away the yoke from your midst,

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

11 And the LORD will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.