Isaiah 1:10-18 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 1:10-18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 10Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! Verse 11What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. Verse 12When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; Verse 13bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation- I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. Verse 14Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. Verse 15When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.
Verse 16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, Verse 17learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Verse 18Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Devotion
Would a father ever tell a child that he is tired of his child’s gifts, beautiful words or promises? Maybe, if they are not sincere gestures of the heart or are concealing something.
A similar experience happens in this Bible text. God is tired of hypocrisy. People make spectacular meetings, give beautiful speeches, fill the calendar with dozens of holidays, make hundreds of withdrawals, and fill their mouths saying that they are “God's people.” However, the truth is that they are far from his will.
The will of God is shown as being supportive of widows, orphans, the needy, and those who are disadvantaged.
What the Lord expects from us is a sincere love; one that should be reflected in the love of our neighbors.
We are in tune with God when we see Christ in our neighbor.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to understand what is important for you, the way I can glorify you, not only, with my words but also with my actions. In Christ Jesus, Amen.