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Satisfying Your Desires

This is another of our ministry letters from our time in Ann Arbor.

1706 Jackson Avenue
Ann Arbor, Mich. 48103

May 15, 1969

Dear Friends,
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah 58:6-11)
There are things in this life that we (Bessie and I) desire very much. They are legitimate desires. They are more than desires on our part; they are promises on God’s part. Desires or promises, they are listed in a beautiful way in Isaiah 58:11: “And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

There is a hitch to this promise of continual guidance and spiritual refreshment. It is an “iffy” promise. Here are the “ifs” from verses 9 and 10:

• “If you take away from the midst of you the yoke (slavery)
• the pointing of the finger (accusation)
• and speaking wickedness (vanity KJV, boasting?)
• 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.”

Earlier in the chapter, we find that God will answer when we call, that our righteousness will go before us, and His glory will come behind us and “your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily” (verse 8).

How could we ask for more? It is a promise of exuberant life, some of that more abundance Jesus promised, Light that breaks and Health that springs!

What are the conditions?

• Setting men free from evil
• Removing their heavy burdens
• Delivering men from oppression
• Feeding the hungry from our own supply
• Bringing the poor and afflicted to our own house
• Clothing the naked
• Taking care of our own family. (verses 6 and 7)

The promises are spiritual and physical, but so are the conditions. If you are interested in the conditions which are not acceptable, they are listed in verses 1-5.

A year ago, we were guided to leave Annapolis with the promise, “My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest” (Exodus 33:14). We were asked to join Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship in the opening of a bookstore in Ann Arbor, and our last letter informed you of the tremendous blessing and outreach of the store. We rejoice in God’s faithfulness.

In His Love,

Jim and Bessie

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