Isaiah 58:6-14, KRH Style

My own paraphrase of Isaiah 58. 

"Is not this the fast that I choose: 

Here's the kind of worship I'd rather you practice:

to loose the bonds of wickedness, 

to undo the straps of the yoke, 

to let the oppressed go free, 

and to break every yoke? 

Repent from your sin, cast off its shackles;

proclaim freedom from the Law that binds people,

teach them about the Grace that saved you!

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?

Give to those in need. Give till it costs you something. 

Give when it's uncomfortable, even awkward;

and be especially good to your own family, to those you've taken for granted. 

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. 

When you do the things that please Me, 

that's when the darkness lifts and the light shines.

You begin to feel whole in a hurry, 

and you experience the freedom of being in right standing with Me 

and enjoying My presence. 

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; 

you shall cry, and he will say, "Here I am." 

If you take away the yoke from your midst, 

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 

if you pour yourself out for the hungry 

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, 

then shall your light rise in the darkness 

and your gloom be as the noonday. 

That's when you'll call, and you'll be able to hear Me answer.

Stop putting your own rules on yourself and others;

stop placing blame and sinning with your words.

Put your energy into feeding the hungry

and caring for the needy.

That's when the darkness lifts and the light shines.

And the Lord will guide you continually 

and satisfy your desire in scorched places 

and make your bones strong; 

and you shall be like a watered garden, 

like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 

And, I'll guide you.  I'll always show you the next step.

I'll quench your thirst even in the dry places, 

And I'll strengthen you beyond reason.

You'll flourish so much with growth and fruit, 

you'll be vibrant, and you'll always have enough to share.

And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; 

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; 

you shall be called the repairer of the breach, 

the restorer of streets to dwell in. 

And, the places you thought broken beyond repair and forgotten will be rebuilt;

You'll be part of building a foundation for generations you'll never meet;

You'll be known as the one who stood in the gap,

The one who revealed Kingdom community where people live.

"If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, 

from doing your pleasure on my holy day, 

and call the Sabbath a delight 

and the holy day of the Lord honorable; 

if you honor it, not going your own ways, 

or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; 

then you shall take delight in the Lord , 

and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; 

I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, 

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

If you quit using My day for your own pleasure,

expecting it to be about what you want and think you need,

but rather take it seriously as time of rest and worship,

then you'll begin to delight again in Me.

I'll give you pleasure and energy like you've never known,

I'll feed you with riches and abundance you've never dreamed of.

That's My heart for you.  What I promise, I do.