Jan 16 — Righteousness of Healing the Broken

Isaiah 58:10a — If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul, ...

We considered feeding the hungry four days ago.  Then God talked about sharing our bread; now God says we have to extend our souls.  Obviously there is something more than physical hunger that God is pointing to.  The Hebrew root word for “hungry” has the implication of having an large empty space in our stomach.  He is speaking to the empty space in people’s souls.  Instead of the Bread of Heaven from four days ago, now the food will come from us.  We will have to extend ourselves—literally bring it out of ourselves.  There is spiritual fruit that I am supposed to  be putting out on my branches.  Those that feel unlovable should be able to eat of love at my side.  Those who are troubled should be able to eat of peace.  There is so much fruit that I am supposed to be producing and extending to those hungry for the Spirit of God.  The fruit is not to be so high off the ground that people cannot reach it.  I am supposed to extend myself.  This will cost me.  This is part of the sacrifice of praise to my God.

Their souls may also be afflicted.  The Hebrew word means bowed down, humbled, downcast, or even depressed.  It’s a person experiencing brokenness.  God has anointed me with His Spirit.  That anointing is for the healing of broken hearts.  God supplies the bandages but I must apply them.  God supplies the disinfectant and soothing oil but I must apply it.  God supplies His Spirit but I must respond to His leading.  He calls me to satisfy the afflicted soul but I am way to interested in my own satisfaction to deal with another’s.  I’m too interested in my own apparent brokenness when God calls me to worry about others’ because He was already broken for me.  The very things that I desire (in the rest of verse 10 through verse 12) will be satisfied if I will respond to Him in ministering to others—satisfying their souls.

Lord, forgive me for my selfishness and laziness.  You left heaven and I will hardly leave my favourite TV show to serve others.  Lord, keep my attention on You, the One who has shown us the Way.  Forgive us, for we have been fed with the richness of Your table but have not shared it.  Lord, help me to see my neighbour and love that person.  Lord, reveal to me the abundance of Your provision in my own life so that I might share it with others.  May I offer You the sacrifice of praise today!

[Also meditate on:  Ps. 42, 63:1-5; Is. 61:1-3; Lk. 10:25-27, 12:13-21; Gal. 5:22-23; Heb. 12:1-3]