The book of Isaiah begins with a summary of Israel’s standing with God, and it is quickly very clear that things are not good. Isaiah 1:4 says, “Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.”
The people had succumbed to a false perspective where they thought that God’s presence and protection was guaranteed. By simply carrying out rituals and traditions, they felt that they were secure. The practices and processes had eclipsed the One by whom and for whom these practices had been established and the reasons for which they were set out.
In verses thirteen and fourteen God says, “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations – I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.”
What an indictment. As I read, I find myself thinking how glad I am that I am not one of them.
But am I not one of them? How much am I doing the very same thing: relying on the rituals and traditions and thinking that I am good, safe and secure? Have I come to the point where I am just dutifully reading a few chapters of my Bible? Am I going through perfunctory prayers before I eat? Do I just speed my way through prayers for “the regular” things/people? Am I merely showing up for church?
To some extent that is clearly the case. And as such I have to address that issue. But how?
Today it has become in vogue to try and escape the traditions. We are encouraged to not be legalistic. So we dial back the priority of setting aside specific time for prayer or reading our Bibles. We deemphasize church or at least our need to attend or participate… let alone prepare for it.
And as we go we tell ourselves that somehow this approach translates into a better form of faith. Somehow truer or purer. Definitely better.
But it is interesting to me that God’s remedy to the situation is far different. He didn’t ask them to adjust or abandon the rituals. He asked them to change their lives.
In verses sixteen and seventeen God says, “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
So there is the challenge. I have to look at the things I am doing and see if they are resulting in me getting to know God better—learning to love and trust Him more—and if that is translating into me doing the things God outlines in these last two verses. The traditions and rituals are there to that end. If reading my Bible, praying, or going to church, etc. do not result in me being a different person, then I have a problem. And the problem isn’t reading my Bible, praying, or going to church… it is how I approach these things.
That gives me plenty to work on to ensure that I am actually different from the Children of Israel in Isaiah’s time.
-Doug Baynton
(Lead Pastor)