The Cost of Worship

English Standard Version Chapter 6

Build Your House on the Rock

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Brandt Jean:

Botham Jean’s brother

Forgiveness to his killer

Gives her a hug

People were shocked, some outraged or confused

What a striking picture of gospel grace, and yet, it isn’t even the full picture.

Jesus goes further still…taking the punishment Himself.

Corrupt and Careless Worship:

Bored with God

Polluted sacrifices

I remember reading this as a young worship leader - The Israelites are caught off-guard by how God describes their lazy worship.

A Failure To See The Love And Grace of God

(ESV)

The Lord’s Love for Israel

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’ ” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

You are an object of God’s love and mercy

Jacob and Esau represent Israel and Edom — God freely chose Israel - He didn’t have to.

The question isn’t why didn’t he choose Edom, but why did He choose Israel? — Mercy! (And yes, the nations are still in view)

“Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!” — Why Greatness? This is the key ingredient of worship (John Piper example - You can have affection/love for many things, but you worship what is great)

(ESV)

The Priests’ Polluted Offerings

6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. 9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.

God compares here the Israelites worship with relationships that they know: (Parents, Servants, Relationships with government)

There is little honor or fear - They know what is required, and probably require it in regard to themselves.

(ESV)

Build Your House on the Rock

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

They offer blind, lame and sick animals in sacrifice - They are cheating God.

This shows their devotion to money and convenience over God.

Present that to your governor — We often serve (fear, love) others more than God. What if we worked for our bosses like we worship? How many of us would be swiftly fired?

The Cost of Worship

10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

In vain: - Araunah offers the threshing floor and animals to David for nothing, but David won’t have his worship cost him nothing.

What are some costs of worship?

(ESV)

13 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

(ESV)

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.

Tithes

(ESV)

Robbing God

6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

They were neglecting to bring the full tithe. (Remember the bling/lame sacrifices, or those taken by force -v.13)

Does the Lord need our money? No, but there is a giving that is worship.

10 percent says that 100 percent is the Lords.

It’s hard to give. It should be in some ways.

He’s not after your money, He’s after you. — Remember the parable of the Rich Ruler?

Wearied With The Lord

13 But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

When our thoughts of God are small he seems wearisome.

Do we cheat God? Do we give Him the scraps of our lives? Are we wearied with His demands or our we delighted in His mercy and steadfast love? — Why is He great?

(ESV)

Judah Profaned the Covenant

10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12 May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

13 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

(ESV)

3 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

Messenger: John the Baptist

Messenger of the covenant: Christ

Who can stand we he appears? No one!

He is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap: He makes righteous. He purifies. He cleanses. He is the covenant keeper — His love makes us lovely. His obedience makes us obedient.

Christians are those whose worship is wholly wrapped up in Christ. He is the best lamb; He is the full tithe; He is perfectly just; He is holy, holy, holy — We are those who say “all I have is Christ!”. He is perfect communion with The Father, and He has given us access to him. ()

When we sing, it’s about Christ and through Christ

When we give, it’s about Christ

When we love, it’s about Christ

When we serve, it’s about Christ

He is our fullness and we are wholly in Him —

We can say with St. Patrick:

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”

― Saint Patrick

Application:

Robbing God

6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

What? Obedience and right worship - Don’t be bored with God!

13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’ ”

-

Why? The Greatness of God - remember the shocking grace of Brandt Jean? — The Lord must be seen in His shocking mercy and love.

What/Who? The Refiner’s Fire - The Fuller’s soap - "he Messenger of The Covenant”

16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Build Your House on the Rock

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

(ESV)

13 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.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts

my soul hates;

they have become a burden to me;

I am weary of bearing them.

15 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.

16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;

remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;

cease to do evil,

17 learn to do good;

seek justice,

correct oppression;

bring justice to the fatherless,

plead the widow’s cause.

Notes:

Missing the greatness of God

“In other words in dealing with the problem of careless worship, God unfolds the nature of his love not first as something warm and gentle and kind and tender, but as something awesome and strange and fearful in its electing freedom. There is in God's love a great and awesome sovereignty. And that's what God draws attention to first.” (John Piper)

“That is the first way that God shows the origin of careless worship. It comes from the failure to feel the greatness of God's sovereign love and the greatness of his majestic fatherhood.” (Piper)

“Notice how verse 11 is connected to verse 10: "I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. FOR from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations!" In other words, the reason careless worship is so reprehensible is because it fails to recognize the greatness of God.” (Piper)

Exactly the same logic turns up in the connection between verses 13 and 14: "Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished; FOR I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is feared among the nations." In other words, careless worship is unacceptable because it utterly fails to come to terms with God's greatness.

So the origin of careless worship is a failure to see and feel the greatness of God. (Piper)

Bored with God:

“But how does this cause careless worship? Malachi's answer: It makes a person bored with God and excited about the world. If you don't see the greatness of God, then all the things that money can buy become very exciting. If you can't see the sun, you will be impressed with a street light. If you've never felt thunder and lightning, you'll be impressed with fire works. And if you turn your back on the greatness and majesty of God, you'll fall in love with a world of shadows and short-lived pleasures.

I get this from verse 13: "'What a weariness this is,' you say, and you sniff at me, says the Lord of Hosts." They are bored with God. Their basic attitude toward worship: "What a weariness this is!" And when you become so blind that the maker of galaxies and ruler of nations and knower of all mysteries and lover of our souls becomes boring, then only one thing is left—the love of the world. For the heart is always restless. It must have its treasure: if not in heaven, then on the earth.” (Piper)

“The essence of careless worship is worthless religious activity. Or to be more precise: it's religious activity that illustrates how little a person values God. That is the sense of verse 10: "Oh, that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire upon my altar in vain!"

There is a little Hebrew word behind that phrase "in vain" that carries a lot of freight. The word is hinam. It is used, for example, in in a way very similar to this verse, but the translation is much fuller. David was trying to avert a plague. To do so he needed a place to build an altar to offer sacrifices to the Lord. The threshing floor of Araunah was in the right place and Araunah offers the threshing floor and animals to David for nothing.

But David responds, "No, but I will buy it of you for a price; I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God hinam—which cost me nothing."

In other words, I value God so much—the sovereign freedom of his love and the majesty of his fatherhood are so satisfying to my soul—that I cannot bring myself to worship in a way that looks as if I love money more than I love him. It must cost me something. It must say that he and not the world is my treasure.

So the essence of careless worship is empty religious activity: it doesn't express the worth of God. In fact it expresses that our treasure is on the earth, and that what we really love is the world.” (Piper)

God doesn’t listen to men who mistreat their wives. ()