I was reading this week in Isaiah, chapter 58 God speaks and Isaiah shares an indictment on the people of God around their abuse of the Sabbath.

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,

    ‘and you have not seen it?

Why have we humbled ourselves,

    and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please

    and exploit all your workers. Isaiah 58:3

The people of God practice their religious duties. They fast, they even observe the Sabbath. But in their important religious lifestyle, they live off the backs of the workers who serve them on the Sabbath so they don’t have to. The workers don’t get to rest, they have the yoke of expectation and oppression laid on them in order that those in power and with influence can appear holy.

God is not impressed with our prayer and fasting, our religiosity, if in the process we are exploiting others with no concern for their wellbeing. In our prayer and fasting, don’t neglect the needs of others who might not be in a position to object or express their own devotion.

Jas