Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Bring no more futile sacrifices"
Text: Isaiah 1:13
ANOTHER QUERY FROM THE LORD
There were many who went to the Temple at Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. These believed that they were doing things that were pleasing to God. They believed that their sacrifices were meritorious. The LORD had to raise a serious question to them.
“When you come to appear before Me,
Who has required this from your hand,
To trample My courts?
Bring no more futile sacrifices;
Incense is an abomination to Me.
The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.”
Isaiah 1:12-13
1. Who had required all these sacrifices?
a) All had assumed that it was God who had commanded these sacrifices.
b) But the reality of it was that the LORD had not commanded these sacrifices at all!
c) The priests were the ones who had demanded these sacrifices and not the LORD.
d) As far as God was concerned, these people were trampling His courts!
i) Their presence was not welcome.
ii) Their sacrifices were not acceptable to Him.
2. The LORD’s straight-forward comment:
a) The sacrifices that were offered were “futile”.
b) The incense they offered were “an abomination” to Him.
3. Many festive religious events were observed:
a) The celebration of New Moons.
b) The Sabbaths.
c) The calling of special assemblies.
d) These were touted as religious obligations to be observed.
4. The response of the LORD.
a) He would not regard so-called “sacred meetings”.
b) The reason offered for this rejection: “I cannot endure iniquity”.
c) The LORD saw beyond the external religious ceremonies.
i) He saw the hearts of the worshippers.
ii) He saw the hearts of those who organized these religious events.
iii) He saw “iniquity” in their hearts.
iv) They had not sought cleansing from the LORD for their many iniquities.
v) They assumed that their worship would be automatically accepted by God.
vi) They were so very wrong!