Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” — Isaiah 58:6 (NIV)
A New Kind of Fasting
Fasting has long been seen as a spiritual practice—an expression of humility, repentance, or a deep longing for God. But in Isaiah 58, God confronts a people who have turned fasting into an empty ritual. They are going through the motions—bowing their heads, wearing sackcloth, abstaining from food—yet their hearts remain untouched, and their hands remain idle when it comes to the needs of others.
God says, “That’s not the fast I’ve asked for.” He doesn’t crave performance. He longs for transformation. He’s not impressed by pious looks; He’s moved by compassionate lives. True fasting, God says, isn’t about withholding bread from ourselves—it’s about becoming bread for the hungry. It’s not about religious self-denial—it’s about radical love in action.
Freedom for Others Begins with Freedom in Us
The call to “loose the chains of injustice” and “break every yoke” isn’t just a job description—it’s a reflection of God’s own heart. We serve a God who sees the overlooked, hears the silenced, and lifts the crushed. And if we claim to walk with Him, we are called to carry that same vision.
But this kind of love and justice doesn’t come from willpower alone. It flows from a place of personal freedom. Many of us walk around chained to our own yokes—fear, guilt, shame, comparison, insecurity. God wants to free you, too.
When you’ve tasted His mercy, you can extend mercy. When you’ve been forgiven, you can forgive. Also, when you’ve experienced healing, you become a healer. You can’t pour out what you haven’t received—but when Christ has set you free, you are free indeed (John 8:36), and your life becomes a vessel of deliverance for others.
Where Are the Chains Today?
This passage challenges us to look outward. Are we aware of the “chains of injustice” around us today?
- – A single mom working two jobs and still unable to feed her children.
- – The young girl being trafficked while the world looks away.
- – An elderly man forgotten in his apartment, lonely and afraid.
- – The immigrant living in fear, unsure of their place in a foreign land.
- – The teen silently battling depression, too afraid to ask for help.
God is not silent about these realities, and neither should we be. He doesn’t just want us to pray for change—He wants us to be part of the change. He is calling His people to rise—not with pointed fingers, but with open hands. Not with platitudes, but with presence. Not with guilt, but with grace-driven action.
The Fast That Lights Up the World
The beauty of Isaiah 58 doesn’t end at verse 6. Just a few verses later, God promises that if we choose this kind of fast—if we loose chains, share bread, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked—then something miraculous happens:
“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear… Then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:8,10)
When we fast God’s way, we become light-bearers. The world is drawn to the warmth of love-in-action. Our own wounds begin to heal as we help others rise. Our faith becomes more than words—it becomes a revolution of grace, a beacon of hope in a weary world.
Today’s Challenge
What “yokes” can you help lift today? What injustice can you speak into? Is there someone you can stand beside? Maybe it’s a phone call to a struggling friend. Maybe it’s volunteering your time. Or, maybe it’s advocating for someone who has no voice. Or maybe it’s simply loving the person in front of you like Jesus would.
You don’t need a platform to bring freedom. You just need to be willing.
Prayer: Father, open my eyes to the kind of fast You’ve chosen. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Free me from empty religion, and fill me with a passion for justice, mercy, and compassion. Use me to lift burdens, break chains, and reflect Your light in this dark world. Teach me to live a faith that sets others free—because You first set me free. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Question:
Where in your life or community do you see “chains” that need breaking? How can your faith become an instrument of freedom this week?