Isaiah 1 -- What Church Would Want To Hear THIS From God?

Wow!  What church would want to open up a letter from God, thinking they were doing well, only to hear this:

“My people don’t know me.  They don’t understand.  I raised My children and helped them grow up, but they have turned against Me … They have left me, they hate Me, and treat Me like a stranger…  Your whole heart is sick … I don’t want all these sacrifices.  I’ve had enough … I’m not pleased … Don’t continue bringing Me worthless sacrifices!  I hate it … I can’t stand it … I can’t stand the evil you do in your holy meetings! … I am tired of it … When you raise your arms to Me in prayer, I will refuse to look at you … I will not listen to you, because your hands are full of blood … Stop doing the evil things I see you do.  Learn to do good.  Seek justice.  Punish those who hurt others.  Help the orphans.  Stand up for the rights of the widows.”

I’d made some margin notes from something I’d read before:  “God despises ritual without reality, sacrifices without obedience, and gifts without the giver.  The mixing of iniquity and solemn assembly is hateful to Him.  In verse 18, He invites us to discover how we have displeased and disappointed Him with our sin.”

God had to tell it like it is to His chosen people:  “You, My enemies, will not cause Me any more trouble.  I will pay you back for what you did.  I will turn against you and clean away all your wrongs as if with soap; I will take all the worthless things out of you.”  Wow!  That last part is certainly not what we expect or deserve, is it?

Father, thank You for loving us enough not to leave us as we are, but instead You want us back, cleansed and useful for Your purposes.  I’m amazed by such love.  Don’t let me waste it!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford