NOTES for Isa 58:1-9
Today the prophet Isaiah tells us how any works we do while obeying God and acknowledging His rightness and wisdom still become food for our egoism. Fasting would appear to be something a person does because the Lord has said many times how important it is for strengthening faith. Yet the confidence that I am the center of the world is so strong that God, and even more the people around us, become those who must patiently endure my bad mood, my nasty character, and everything connected with me. The main purpose of the world around me is to forget itself and serve completely the smooth running of my fast. This picture is terrible and funny. It is hard to imagine a greater absurdity. And nevertheless the prophet warns us that this is precisely the first and difficult trial for a person: fasting is a time of service to God and neighbor. Service, not bringing both God and neighbor into line with my ideas about how they should behave during my fast.