2 Timothy 3:16 -- "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
Today's daily bread is Isaiah 1:13-14.
Isaiah 1:13-14 -- "Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them."
In the past we have explained these verses by referring to the word "your", indicating they were not keeping His appointed days. This clearly indicates idolatry. But what if God refers to His true Sabbaths and festivals, but His concern is with the way people kept them?
This is a very distinct possibility. The crowds of people were in a festive mood, yet God rejects their worship. To Him their "holiness" was a sham. Since God calls their sacrifices "futile" and their incense "an abomination," the spiritual basis of their worship must be profane. The broader context shows these people had the morals of alley cats! Their eyes were hot with lust and greed; their fortunes had been built on crime. They were envious, murderous, deceitful, stingy, filled with hate and gossip -- yet on the Sabbaths they appeared before God as if everything in their relationship was just fine!
What kind of idea of God had they conceived to think that He would accept such conduct? Their worship merely went through the motions with punctilious observance of the Sabbath and rituals. Obviously, the god they conceived was not the true God because He is more concerned with right relationships than scrupulous regard for ceremony.
They broke both the first and second commandments: They conjured up their own image of God and then worshipped in the name of the true God as they saw fit.
Worship is the reaction to one's god at all times and cannot be separated from character and attitudes. The true God cannot be fooled.
(SOURCE: The Berean)
2 Comments:
It's interesting that Jesus was saying the exact same thing to the religious folks of His day. They were like white-washed tombs, clean on the outside but stinking like death on the inside. So much so that when He spoke in parables, they didn't understand Him.
He says the same thing to the last days church. They think they are rich and have need of nothing but He says that they are blind and naked and wretched. And still He calls out to us to repent and to buy of Him gold tried by fire and white raiment so that our nakedness won't be seen.
How is it that we, who are so unworthy, have such an amazing God?
Doesn't it astound you that He not only hears us but listens?
The more I learn about how sinful I really am, the more I'm amazed at His Grace and the more I realize that what He did for us ... I can't find the words to describe it.
Praise God.
look at the festivals they are having this week in Israel, thursday they had a gay pride event or tried to .more and more they pushing the line deeper into moral decay and demanding that it be accepted as ok.
also Israel goes by a calander that is not the one God handed down nor the was in force at the time of Christ .70 yrs after when the temple was destroyed they [priests] came up with a a new one based on 19 yr cycle and not the new moon and on when they decided to add a 13th month or not and not by the abib or aviv barley search to see if enough would be ready for the waive sheaf off. at Passover time.
also ,yes they wernt in the right heart on His commands. the attitude was look we kept the day as said and thats it now we can back to what we want, hence the 1/16 verse from God ..cease to do evil. :17,18 also shows what He wanted from them ,to obey in the heart ...thus the reference to Sodom and Gomorah in verse :9 all that is in play today as was then in their hearts
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