Trying To Catch Back Up: This Reading: Isaiah 1-3; Psalm 9
Two amazing things jump out at me in this reading, both qualities of our great and glorious God.
First, as He discusses the fact that He hates their adherence to the ceremonial things of the Law while they ignored weightier matters like justice, God says, "I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly" (1:13).
All of the proper means and form of worship is worthless if we are caught up in sin. In fact, it is an affront to God to perform acts of worship while rejecting His teaching on such important values as justice and obedience. In other words, God is not fooled by sanctimony when our "hands are full of blood" (1:15).
But as disgusted as God is by their behavior, look at what follows as He instructs them to repent:
"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land" (1:18-19).
We serve a God who is willing, indeed who desires, to forgive. He wants us to return to Him. He desires relationship with us, despite all that we have done to reject Him. If we are willing to obey, He is more than willing to forgive. Like a white snowfall covers an ugly bloodstain, His love can cover the blood on our hands, washing us clean to walk again with Him.
Two amazing things jump out at me in this reading, both qualities of our great and glorious God.
First, as He discusses the fact that He hates their adherence to the ceremonial things of the Law while they ignored weightier matters like justice, God says, "I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly" (1:13).
All of the proper means and form of worship is worthless if we are caught up in sin. In fact, it is an affront to God to perform acts of worship while rejecting His teaching on such important values as justice and obedience. In other words, God is not fooled by sanctimony when our "hands are full of blood" (1:15).
But as disgusted as God is by their behavior, look at what follows as He instructs them to repent:
"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land" (1:18-19).
We serve a God who is willing, indeed who desires, to forgive. He wants us to return to Him. He desires relationship with us, despite all that we have done to reject Him. If we are willing to obey, He is more than willing to forgive. Like a white snowfall covers an ugly bloodstain, His love can cover the blood on our hands, washing us clean to walk again with Him.