A matter of the heart
In the Law of Moses, it is easy to be distracted by all the detailed worship regulations, but that is
not the real focus. All those details were given in order serve a larger purpose, and that God. to is
Our focus should be on God, and the same was true for the ancient Israelites. They were to focus
on God.
Worship in ancient Israel was not just at the tabernacle it was also in the heart and in the home. –
God did not want people think that they could the rituals and then live as they please. to do It
was not enough "do" the worship a to – person’s honor and respect for God should genuine, be in
the heart, which meant that God was to be praised in all of life.
In Deuteronomy 6, Moses told the Israelites put instructions their hearts, and teach to God’s in
them to their children, to talk about them when they sat, when they walked, and when they lay
down. They were write these instructions to on the doorposts, immerse themselves to in God’s
way of life. All of life worship. is
Some of the later prophets build on this theme. Samuel told Saul that obedience is better than
sacrifice. God wants a right attitude more than he wants correct rituals. In Jeremiah 7:22, God
says, I didn’t bring you out of Egypt because I wanted sacrifices. I just wanted you obey me, to
and sacrifices are only a tiny part of what I commanded.
Isaiah even stronger saying, effect, is –in "I’m sick of your sacrifices. I’m sick of your sabbaths
and holy days." Here is Isaiah 1:11-17: "I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and
goats ....Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense detestable me. New Moons, is to
Sabbaths and convocations I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your New Moon festivals and –
your appointed feasts soul hates When you spread out your hands prayer, I will hide my .... in my
eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen." The people were doing rituals,
bringing animals, keeping Sabbaths and festivals, even praying, but despite all that, there was
something seriously lacking in their worship.
Why didn’t God like their worship? He does not say they were keeping the wrong days or doing
the rituals incorrectly. The problem was that their lives were full of sin. Isaiah counsels: "Your So
hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. ... Stop doing wrong, learn to right! do
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the
widow."
Their sacrifices, prayers and praises were not accompanied by performance in their day- -day to
lives. They had worship rituals, but they did not obey God’s commands for how to treat their
neighbors, and the result was unacceptable worship. As Jesus said, quoting Isaiah 29:13, their
worship was in vain. was hypocritical It to do the worship if it wasn’t changing the other aspects
of their lives.
For worship to be acceptable to God, we must have obedient lives. The ritual is not enough the –
attitude what most important. God does not want hypocritical worship, people who say he is is is
