Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?"
Text: Isaiah 1:11
AN ANCIENT MONARCHY
Israel was essentially a monarchy. A king ruled the nation. He had many advisors to help him rule well. Among the advisors would be the priests who were in charge of the religious aspect of the kingdom.
THE RULERS OF THE LAND
The LORD posed a serious question to the rulers of the nation. He had every right and reason to speak to the rulers.
“Hear the word of the LORD,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the law of our God,
You people of Gomorrah:
‘To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?’
Says the LORD.
‘I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle.
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
Or of lambs or goats.'”
Isaiah 1:10-11
1. The rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah.
a) The original cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.
b) The names were used symbolically here to describe the land of Judah.
2. The law of God:
a) The laws of God were not obeyed.
b) As Sodom and Gomorrah were lawless cities, so had the nation of Judah
become lawless.
c) The people of Judah were no better than the citizens of Sodom and
Gomorrah.
3. The religious activities of the nation of Judah.
a) The priests continued with their liturgical services.
b) Their worship of God had the following:
i) Making of Sacrifices.
ii) Burnt offerings of rams and fed cattle.
iii) The blood of bulls, rams and goats were offered in abundance
to God.
4. The mistaken belief of the people.
a) They believed that God was pleased with these sacrifices.
b) They believed that God would bless them because they offered
worship.
c) The people ignored the place of the law of God in favour of making
sacrifices.
5. A question raised up by the LORD.
a) What was their purpose in making such sacrifices?
b) There was no point or purpose as far as God was concerned!
6. A candid comment of the LORD.
a) He has had enough of these meaningless sacrifices!
b) He does not take delight in any of these so-called worship services!
c) The lives of the people were marked by lawlessness.
d) They were compared to Sodom and Gomorrah for they were in danger
of being severely punished for their sinful ways!