Isaiah 1:11-17 (The Message)
11-12"Why this frenzy of sacrifices?"
God's asking.
"Don't you think I've had my fill of burnt sacrifices,
rams and plump grain-fed calves?
Don't you think I've had my fill
of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats?
When you come before me,
whoever gave you the idea of acting like this,
Running here and there, doing this and that—
all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?
13-17"Quit your worship charades.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I'll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I'll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you've been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don't have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.
The other night I read this passage and it really spoke to me. Basically, God is frustrated with all of the craziness in worship. I related this to the church and how we can sometimes get all wrapped up in meetings, and events that need to be planned. We get stressed, and in such of a hurry that it becomes more about the event than about God. I especially like the part where God says, "When you come before me, who ever gave you the idea of acting like this, running here and there, doing this and that- all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?" God just lays it out there that we have become too busy and that we should just take a break and focus on God. Be still, and know that I am God. God demands our time, so why don't we just take some time out of our day to sit down, be still, and know that he is God.
