Is58, Redeeming the Weekends

# Redeeming the Weekends
## Isaiah 58

>>>
[weekend.seanho.com](http://weekend.seanho.com)

---

# What are my
# **weekends** for?

>>>
+ 6 days work / 1 day rest
  + ⇒ for what purpose?
+ demands of **family**
+ "**me**" time
+ dose of 2hrs of **church**

---

## Isaiah 58: Redeeming the Weekends
1. *Pretending* → **Protecting** (v3-9a)
2. *Pride* → **Providence** (v9b-12)
3. *Pleasure* → **Praise** (v13-14)

>>>
+ call to **action**
+ **change** how spend weekend
  + view of **worship**

---

(2)
Declare to my people their **rebellion** 
and to the descendants of Jacob their **sins**.

>>>
+ not beyond **hope**
+ show sin ⇒ **change**
  + as **father** to son
+ 57:15 **contrite**, vs
  + 18-21 restless **wicked**

---

## 1. Pretending → Protecting
+ *Don't:* Pursue **Appearance** of Humility
 (v2-5)
+ *Do:* **Protect** the Oppressed
 (v6-7)
+ *Promise:* **Answer** our Cry + **Protect**
 (v8-9)

---

(2)
day after day they **seek me out**; 
they **seem eager** to know my ways, [...]

They ask me for **just decisions** 
and seem eager for God to **come near** them.

>>>
+ **good** guys!
+ **churchgoers**, believe selves good Christians
+ **seek** out God's will
+ **fasting**: voluntary sacrifice
  + to **worship** God
  + be **holy**

---

(5)
only a day for people 
to **humble themselves**?

Is it only for **bowing one’s head** like a reed 
and for lying in **sackcloth and ashes**?

>>>
+ **appearance** of humility
+ self-**abasement**
  + focus: **own** sacrifice+suffering
  + ⇒ **penance** for sins
+ e.g., devos at **camp**

---

(3)
You do **as you please** 
and **exploit** all your workers.

Your fasting ends in **quarreling and strife**, 
and in **striking each other** with wicked fists.

>>>
+ family argue **more** on wknd?

---

+ *Don't:* Pursue Appearance of Humility
 (v2-5)
+ *Do:* **Protect the Oppressed**
 (v6-7)
+ *Promise:* Answer our Cry + Protect
 (v8-9)

>>>
+ OK so the **facade** of humility
  + only leads to **conflict**
+ So what **should** we do?

---

(6)
To loose the **chains of injustice** 
and untie the **cords of the yoke**, 
to set the **oppressed** free 
and break every **yoke**?

>>>
+ Justice: **God** defines
+ e.g., human right to **internet**? 
+ e.g., mom hides **phone**
+ choose **sexual identity**?
+ **Addictions**

---

(7)
To **share your food** with the hungry 
and to provide the poor wanderer with **shelter** 
when you see the naked, to **clothe them**, 
and not to turn away 
from your own **flesh and blood**?

>>>
+ Not that we can **solve** poverty
+ Selfishness affects our **heart**
  + **Sharing** God's grace
+ **ἁπλότης**: simplicity + generosity
  + **blessed** ↠ more to **give**

---

+ *Don't:* Pursue Appearance of Humility
 (v2-5)
+ *Do:* Protect the Oppressed
 (v6-7)
+ *Promise:* **Answer our Cry + Protect**
 (v8-9)

>>>
+ **Action**, not **appearance**
  + impact, not image
+ And God has a **promise**:

---

(8)
then your righteousness will **go before** you, 
and the glory of the Lord 
will be your **rear guard**.

Then you will **call**, and the Lord will **answer**; 
you will **cry for help**, and he will say: **Here am I**

>>>
+ We **protect** the oppressed ⇒
  + God **surrounds** us
+ We **respond** to cry of poor ⇒
  + God responds to **prayer**

---

## Do I care more about **appearing** humble
## than **protecting** the oppressed?

>>>
+ Pretending → Protecting
+ Act of **faith** in God's protection

---

## Isaiah 58: Redeeming the Weekends
1. Pretending → Protecting (v3-9a)
2. **Pride → Providence** (v9b-12)
3. Pleasure → Praise (v13-14)

>>>
+ 2nd section echoes theme:
+ **inward**, selfish pride ⇒
  + **outward** focus
  + **provide** for others

---

## 2. Pride → Providence
+ *Don't:* Presume **Superiority**
 (v9b)
+ *Do:* **Provide** for the Needy
 (v10a)
+ *Promise:* **Satisfy** Needs + **Restore**
 (v10b-12)

>>>
+ **neg**: heart attitude
+ **pos**: action in faith
+ **promise**: as we bless others
  + God blesses us

---

(9)
If you do away with the **yoke of oppression**, 
with the **pointing finger** and **malicious talk**,

>>>
+ Don't: Presume **Superiority**
+ **Oppression**: master / slave
+ **Pointing**: superiority
  + (not blame)
+ Talk: **slander**
  + with **intent** to harm

---

(10)
if you **spend yourselves** 
in behalf of the hungry 
and **satisfy the needs** of the oppressed,

>>>
+ Do: **Provide** for the Needy
+ e.g. expend life on **kids**
  + ⇒ **expand** generosity
  + to **family**, then
  + **beyond** family
+ KJV: **draw out** your soul
+ God has 2-part **promise**:

---

(11)
**satisfy your needs** in a sun-scorched land 
and will **strengthen** your frame.

You will be like a **well-watered garden**, 
like a **spring** whose waters never fail.

>>>
+ Promise (1): **Satisfy** Your Needs
+ As we provide for others
  + God **provides** for us
+ need not **fear**:
  + not a **zero-sum**
+ Even more, God gives us a **title**:

---

(12)
Your people will **rebuild** the ancient ruins 
and will **raise up** the age-old foundations;

you will be called **Repairer** of Broken Walls, 
**Restorer** of Streets with Dwellings.

>>>
+ God's Promise (2): **Restore** You
+ **We** are the repairers / restorers!
+ by God's **strength**
+ sharing God's **grace**

---

## Do I care more about **justifying** myself
## than **providing** for the needy?

>>>
+ **Trust** in God's providence
+ act of **faith**

---

## Isaiah 58: Redeeming the Weekends
1. Pretending → Protecting (v3-9a)
2. Pride → Providence (v9b-12)
3. **Pleasure → Praise** (v13-14)

>>>
+ first 2 sections: **anytime**
  + **worship** in practise
  + **faith** in action
+ last section: **Sabbath**
  + 1/7 specifically for God
  + **more** than just church!

---

## 3. Pleasure → Praise
+ *Don't:* Do as We **Please** on Sabbath
 (v13)
+ *Do:* Consider Its **Joy** and **Gravity**
 (v13b)
+ *Promise:* Be Our **Joy** and **Triumph**
 (v14)

>>>
+ what are we supposed to do on the Sabbath? 
+ neg → pos → promise

---

(13)
If you keep your **feet** 
from breaking the **Sabbath** 
and from doing **as you please** on my holy day,

---

(13)
and if you **honor** it 
by not going your **own way** 
and not doing **as you please** 
or speaking **idle** words,

>>>
+ Don't: Do as you **Please**
+ esp those who **serve**:
  + retail, cust svc
  + keep clients happy
  + moms, teachers
+ ⇒ indulge **self**
  +  "me" time: **deserve** it
+ Don't **honour** self, but:

---

(13)
if you call the Sabbath a **delight** 
and the Lord’s holy day **honorable**,

>>>
+ honour God **first**, and
  + He will **exalt** you
+ Do: Consider its **joy** and **gravity**

---

(14)
Then you will **find your joy** in the Lord,

and I will cause you to **ride in triumph** 
on the heights of the land

>>>
+ God's Promise: Be Your **joy** and **triumph**
+ Not: God **gives** you joy, but
  + Find joy **in** the Lord
+ **Lasting** joy + triumph
  + not fleeting **addictions**

---

## Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV)
**Delight** yourself in the LORD, 
and he will give you the **desires** of your heart.

**Commit** your way to the LORD; 
**trust** in him, and he will act.

>>>
+ joy: in the Lord Himself
+ giver, not the gift
  + face, not only the hand
+ commit, trust: obey

---

## Do I care more about my own **plans**
## than declaring God's **glory**?

---

## Isaiah 58: Redeeming the Weekends
1. Pretending → **Protecting** (v3-9a)
2. Pride → **Providence** (v9b-12)
3. Pleasure → **Praise** (v13-14)

---