No More Sacrifices
What happens when God gets tired of sacrifices offered from hands covered with iniquity? What should a nation do when God refuses a multitude of sacrifices because the peoples’ hearts are filled with a multitude of sins?
When the Lord’s response is “… I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen.” (Isaiah 1:15), the people's’ response cannot be to simply add more prayer or change the words. When God tires of ceremonial sacrifices of worship and supplication, the people must understand that the issue is one of the heart. A new program will not change anything, more vain offerings will not rectify the problem.
"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause." (Isaiah 1:16-17)
God wants to bless this nation. But like a father being cajoled by an insolent child, He will not stomach a mouth that speaks praises while the actions speak rebellion and disobedience. God wants to think this through with us. We have a choice: willing obedience and good of the land or rebellious refusal and the sword. (Isaiah 1:19-20)
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
