Abominable Worship and Service

This is the one I esteem:

he who is humble and contrite in spirit,

and trembles at my word.

But whoever sacrifices a bull

is like one who kills a man,

and whoever offers a lamb,

like one who breaks a dog's neck;

whoever makes a grain offering

is like one who presents pig's blood,

and whoever burns memorial incense,

like one who worships an idol.

They have chosen their own ways,

and their souls delight in their abominations;

so I also will choose harsh treatment for them,

and will bring upon them what they dread.

For when I called, no one answered,

when I spoke, no one listened.

They did evil in my sight

and chose what displeases me. (Is. 66:2-4)

So the picture Isaiah is painting is a normal worship service with singing, praying, offerings, and preaching. Yet what seems like songs of worship are like everyone vomiting on the floor, what seems to be praying is cussing and making obscene gestures at God, what seems like offering is like beating and stealing from the poorest members, and what seems like preaching is really like pornography practiced at the front of the church. What Isaiah portrays is truly frightening: people who think they are praising, worshiping, and honoring God, but who are, in reality, committing the worst of sins by their very worship and practice.

What was the problem? They lacked humility and a contrite spirit. They chose their own ways and delighted in them above listening to God and answering his call. Such practices are abominations to God, evil in his sight, and displeasing to him. They did not tremble at his word.

I nearly cried at the phrase, "When I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened." Often, I think I am trying to hear God. I have various practices in my life to attune my heart to what God wants. At the heart of it all is obedience, however. So often I find I am listening hard for things that will please me and make me happy, like solutions to my problems and guidance that paves the way to peace. I have selective hearing.

This kind of hearing is what brings abominable worship and service to God. It carefully circumvents the heart of what God wants of me with an obsession on my own happiness, my own accomplishments, my own desires. "God couldn't want that because I would be so miserable!" I think when faced with some of his words to me. I try to pad them, soften them, or even change them, but then I just end up deaf. Rather than seeking for ways to obey what seems hard or impossible, I look for ways I can get out of really doing what he asks of me. So I fill my life up with "sacrifices" that will somehow excuse me from obedience.

Ironically, when I seek to skirt God's words to me, I end up with harsh treatment from God - I can't hear him or receive his comfort - because I ignore his efforts to help and heal me. I also end up having the very things I dread come true. Away from God, I am vulnerable to deception and oppression. God wants to save me from fear and dread, but it requires obedience.

Lord, I want to listen and obey. When I listen, I treat your word as just a bit of information. I use it to make up my own mind. I do not seek to use my mind to make up obedience in my life. My attitude is all wrong. I see that without listening to you, I cannot hope to obey. I see that listening without obeying is no better than ignoring you. I also know that obedience without trusting you wholeheartedly and without eager anticipation for what you will bring will quickly fade and fail. At the heart of it all is that faith, that trust, that confidence that you are good and will do good. Increase my faith so that my worship and service might please you and not make you sick, Father! Thank you for your patience. Don't let me presume upon you, though. Let me seek to obey out of love for you. Amen.