Sinful Ways of Seeking

On October 25, 1964, the Minnesota Viking’s defensive end Jim Marshall made one of the most infamous plays in NFL history. When San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Billy Kilmer, fumbled the football, Marshall picked up the loose ball and ran for the end zone untouched. But he didn’t score a touchdown: Marshall, becoming disoriented on the field direction, ran the ball to the wrong end zone, scoring a safety and giving two points to the 49ers! The entire time he thought he was going the right way down the field.

Much in the same way, Israel sought the Lord daily. They were fasting and coming before the Lord on the Sabbath. But they weren’t hearing the applause from heaven. When they inquired why, they discovered that they had been seeking the Lord in the wrong way. But if fasting is the wrong way, what would be the right way down this field?

The acts of bowing before the Lord are meaningless when not coupled with works of righteousness. Israel had conducted business on the Sabbath, mistreated workers, overlooked the hungry, left the homeless in the streets, and forgotten the poor. No amount of fasting and Sabbath-keeping could cover their sin. They were seeking the Lord as hypocrites.

The Lord loves faithful acts of liturgy, but He also requires faithful acts of justice (see Micah 6:8). Both are involved in making true worshipers who seek Him the right way. The contrition that should make us seek the face of God for His mercy, joy, and blessing should also lead us to return such mercy, joy, and blessing to marginalized people in society who are in need. True worship also must transform our work for the needy in society. This is God’s chosen fast.

Pray With Us

Today, as you pray, please add to your list the rest of the Satellite Network Operations team: Thomas Svoboda, Rodney Simon, Philip Shappard, and David Woodworth. We praise God for their ministry of extending the reach of Moody Radio.

BY Dr. Eric C. Redmond

Dr. Eric C. Redmond serves as a professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and as associate pastor of adult ministries at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Ill. He is married to Pam and they have five children. He is the author of Say It!  Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition (Moody Publishers), Where Are All the Brothers? Straight Answers to Men's’ Questions about the Church (Crossway), a commentary on Jonah in the Christ-Centered Exposition Series (B&H Publishers), and a study guide on Ephesians in the Knowing the Bible series (Crossway).