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Isaiah was proclaiming a
message concerning true worship. In
his day, as in any age, there were some who went
through a form of worship, but they were not
concerned about living godly lives.
The form of worship then became more
important than true worship. God did
not accept their sacrifices because they were
not walking in obedience to God.
"To what purpose is the multitude
of your sacrifices unto Me? Your new
moons and your appointed feasts MY soul hateth;
they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear
them (Isaiah 1:14).
Matthew Henry reminds us: "There
are many who are strangers, nay, enemies, to the
power of religion, and yet very zealous for the
show and shadow and form of it."
We are reminded of the woman Jesus
met at the well of Jacob near
Sychar. She tried to discuss which
was the proper place to worship God: Jerusalem
of Gerazim. The Lord instructed her
that God wants those who worship Him to worship
Him in spirit and in truth.
We also turn to Paul's last
writing in which he describes the last days in
which men will have "a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof." God is
looking for true worship from the heart…
"Wherefore the Lord said,
Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their
mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have
removed their heart far from Me, and their fear
toward Me is taught by the precept of men…"
(Isaiah 29:13).
Isaiah was burdened for his people
that they were religious, but not close to God.
Notice that the verse above states that they had
removed their heart far from God!
This is a passage from Isaiah that
the Lord Jesus quoted and applied to religious
people when He was on this earth. He
spoke thus:
"Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah
prophesy of you, saying This people draweth nigh
unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with
their lips; but their heart is far from Me.
But in vain they do worship Me,
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
God wants the surrender of our
hearts! He desires that we be close
to Him, not far removed from Him.
"Let us draw near with a true heart" (Heb.
10:22)
