Abdominal Pains over His Chruch

Isaiah 1:11-17

Have you ever been foolish enough to say, God is going to do such and such?  Many who study the Scriptures may make assertions based on what has happened in the past, but no one knows the time line God has set for what we call the future.  Blaise Pascal gives this insight, “The supreme function of reason is to show man that some things are beyond reason.”  And a wise person will come quickly to the understanding that God is that “some things.” 

With that said, can we derive from Isaiah that God has had a gut full of religious observances where the people go through the motions of looking good to man, but their hearts are far from Him.  Has God spoken to this elsewhere, the answer is yes, Jesus when addressing the Pharisees and scribes about their traditions quoted Isaiah?  “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:7-9, ESV)  And as you ponder on those thoughts, do you wonder if maybe God is having some serious abdominal pains over His church?

Beginning in the eleventh verse, and remember it is God who is speaking; “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? Says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.”  But that was the requirement given them for the annual forgiveness of sins against God.  These people were going through the motion; they were meeting the requirements, but not to gain fellowship with God, but to appease God.  If only they would have had the heart attitude of King David, when he ask God to forgive him and give him a heart that was clean.  Could it be that many of us should make this confession? “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.” (Psalm 51:3-4)  I wish we who claim to be followers of Christ, would grasp this, it is evident David did; “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17, ESV)

As we look at why God is angry with these people in verses 12 and 13, they keep showing up with vain offerings, not of repentance, God tells them incense is an abomination to Him and so are the “New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations – I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.”  God tells them in verse 15, that He will hide His eyes when they pray many prayers He will not listen.  And then once more God tells both them and us what will move His heart.  “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” (Isaiah 1:16-17, ESV)  The apostle Paul reminded each of us, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5)  It’s test time!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice