False Worship
Notes
Transcript
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Perspective Is Important
Perspective Is Important
· God tells us to first “get the log out of your own eye”
o This gives us the right perspective to see the conflict correctly
§ Specifically, our own role in it.
· – Is similar to that logic
o Isaiah had just spoken God’s accusations against the Jewish people (v 2 – 8)
o Left with this statement (READ VERSE 9)
o Then tells them – You are like the people of Sodom & Gomorrah (wake up call)
What Worship Is Supposed to Be
What Worship Is Supposed to Be
“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.
11 “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.
· Statement seems odd in light of sacrifice and worship being command from God.
o What was the purpose of sacrificial worship to God?
It made a relationship with God possible.
o Jewish people were not the only ones sacrificing bulls, lambs ect.
§ But they were the ones directing it toward God (the only true God)
· – Elisha at Mt Carmel – challenges prophets of baal.
· So, it wasn’t about the sacrifice itself – it was about the relationship.
o Sin separates us from God
§ Sacrifice was given to them to deal with that sin.
· This provided ability to have a relationship with God
§ We already have that sacrifice in Jesus
· What we are left with is accepting that sacrifice as done for us
o Then we are free to have the relationship.
· So, God is calling out their complete misunderstanding of what worship is.
o They would carry out sacrifices to God, but then go and worship of other Gods.
§ It was really about them. “We have the law of Moses. We have access to the only true God.”
False worship is really a heart issue.
False worship is really a heart issue.
(so we can put this into context for today)
§ Imagine if WBC was known for the best music, the most elaborate festivals, and then went home and lived however we wanted.
There is a point when worship becomes more about entertainment and less about a relationship with God.
There is a point when worship becomes more about entertainment and less about a relationship with God.
What God Thinks about False Worship
What God Thinks about False Worship
Verse 13-14
“When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
Bring no more vain offerings;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
this trampling of my courts?
“When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
13 Bring no more vain offerings;
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
· When you live for yourself and then come before God like nothing it wrong
o That is offensive and insulting to God
o “Trampling of my courts”
o God is asking them, “Why are you doing this to me?”
:!3
Bring no more vain offerings;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
· “Bring no more vein offerings”
o (Note the word vein)
o If you’re going to pretend, then just stay home.
Remember what Jesus said about going to worship when you have a conflict with you brother (leave your offering and resolve your broken relationship)
CHARACTER STATEMENT ABOUT GOD
“I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.”
§ You know what’s worse than not worshipping God at all
· Pretending you are while living in unrepentant sin. (God hates it.)
· Jesus warned the church of Laodicea – “I’m about to spit you out”
§ God has provided the solution for our iniquity.
When we reject His solution for sin and still come to worship. We are saying, “I want to TAKE your blessings and Keep my sin.”
When we reject His solution for sin and still come to worship. We are saying, “I want to TAKE your blessings and Keep my sin.”
o We are saying,
“I want to TAKE your blessings and Keep my sin.”
§ False worship is not neutral – it actually make things worse.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates;
Your new moons and your appointed feasts
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.
· New Moon & Appointed feasts
o Pointing specifically to the instructed times of celebration given to them by God
o But tells them, “They have become a burden to me.”
· After 23 years I still get a little excited inside when Melissa enters a room.
· (When I read this) I wonder what God feels when His people come together for worship.
o Excitement, love, contentment
o The nation of Israel had ruined the experience so badly (for God and for them)
§ Now God feels a burden when they come together
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
· One of the biggest ways we are ridiculed is to say we are prying to an imaginary god.
o According to v15 – we can do that to ourselves
§ God is real, but we can damage our relationship so bad that He stops listening.
o Imagine raising your hand to worship no one
o Imagine praying over and over again, going through some of the worst parts of life and not having God hear you.
§ We can do this to ourselves.
The Only Solution is Repentance
The Only Solution is Repentance
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
Is
Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes.
· Physically this would be the same observances as God just denounced
· The difference it the heart. Then your sacrifice and worship is real.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
Finally, in verse 18 we see the Ultimate cleansing of a sinful life
Finally, in verse 18 we see the Ultimate cleansing of a sinful life
Salvation though Christ Jesus.
As badly as God despises false worship.
Even though he CANNOT endure iniquity and solemn assembly
For the Jewish people AND FOR US – He has provided a way to restore our relationship to Him.