by Cameron Thompson
The book of Isaiah is full of the thundering judgements of a righteous and angry God against Judah. The prophet likens them to the godless cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord even tells them that he hates their sacrifices, their festivals, and their worship that is supposedly in honour of him. He tells them that he is not even listening to their prayers. Perhaps we can better understand this if we imagine the message of Isaiah 1:10-20 thus:
“The multitude of your services,
What are they to me?” says the Lord
“I have more than enough of your choruses,
Your building funds and offerings,
Your conferences, your concerts,
Have become a burden to me,
I am weary of bearing endless teachings,
And your mid-week assemblies”
It was God himself who first instituted the sacrifices and worship practices of the children of Israel. But in this instance, he is rejecting them. We know that God delights in the praises of his people, and worship of many forms is encouraged throughout the Scriptures. However, whether it was the temple then or the church today, worship must extend beyond the four walls of the building. The worship that is most pleasing to God is neither burnt offerings, nor words sung. The worship is in the right behaviour, living with integrity, helping the needy, and seeing justice done. This kind of worship will verify the religious acts of worship and fellowship. This right behaviour was lacking in Judah, and so their worship counted for nothing in the sight of God. Thankfully, God always presents the opportunity for forgiveness through repentance.
Father, help our worship to go beyond rituals and short term outward actions – may it also transform our very hearts so that the way we live every moment of our lives can increasingly reflect your integrity and concern for people who are needy and oppressed.
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