Sanctified Selfishness

Hard truth: It's possible to be in active service toward God and selfish about it at the same time. This is why prophets in the Old Testament were often hated in their generation. They saw it and called it out in the hearts of God's people. So Isaiah does in Isaiah 58. 

Isaiah 58:1–2 (ESV) “Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 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.

The first verse is a call to "SHOUT" the sins of Israel. Why? Because its hard to know your sinning when you're actively participating in the sacred for selfish reasons. It's hard for the "good people" to realize they are being "good" on their own terms. I truly believe more people will end up in hell because they were busy being "good" on their terms than those who end up in hell because they were bad and knew it!

Isaiah describes a religious people here. "They seek" God but they do not truly want to know what He says. What a dark place to be. So God calls them out in more detail in the following verses. 

Isaiah 58:3–4 (ESV) ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? 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. 4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.

This was a devout religious people. At least, in religious observance. They fasted and humbled themselves. But they did even these "spiritual" things with selfish intent. They did not do these things to be good towards each other. They did these things to be good in themselves. They are the prodigal son's older brother of Luke 15. "All these years I have slaved for you." 

Religious people must regularly examine their religious practices. Are we serving God or self?

Isaiah then describes the nature of true religious practice.

Isaiah 58:6–7 (ESV) “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?

True religious practice should take great pains to seek the welfare of others. Well did James describe it:

James 1:27 (ESV) Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

It's possible to be religious and self-absorbed. They were the people sought Christ's arrest and crucifixion. They had the appearance of godliness but denied the power of it. 

The good news for those in this dark place from Isaiah 58 is that if such people repent and seek true religious practice, God will pour his blessing on their lives and communities. 

Isaiah 58:8 (ESV) 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.

Reading the rest of the chapter is filled with such promises of increase, answered prayers, guidance from the Lord, and the rebirth of their nation. 

Let the modern American church wake up to such promises for I fear that we are very much entwined in a performative religion instead of a true faith based on repentance and obedience.