Isa 1:11-15 | KingComments | STEP | Isaiah represents the voice of the remnant when he acknowledges in that it is thanks to God’s grace that they did not become like Sodom and Gomorrah. This does not apply to the wicked mass to whom he addresses the word in . Spiritually speaking, the condition of Jerusalem and Judah resembles that of Sodom and Gomorrah ( ). Jerusalem and Judah exhibit characteristics such as pride, exuberance and worry-free rest. In the future, this will be spiritually the case with the Jews in their temple who they have rebuilt in unbelief in Jerusalem ( ). Isaiah addresses the leaders of Jerusalem in the first place ( ). He speaks to them unflatteringly as “rulers of Sodom”. He also addresses God’s people, whom he calls just as unflatteringly “you people of Gomorrah”. This means that their spiritual state will irrevocably lead to God’s judgment. Therefore, he calls upon the leaders to “hear the word of the LORD” and exhorts the people to “give ear to the instruction of our God”. On top of that, and this is really shocking, they cover their depravity with a garment of religiosity. It is the religion of Cain. They multiply “sacrifices” to God ( ), but He rejects them. They are worthless to Him because they are brought with a hypocritical and cold heart ( ; ; ; ). They may bring many sacrifices, but He abhors them. He has had enough of their “burnt offerings of rams”. The ram is the animal of the sacrifice of consecration. By bringing a ram, they pretend that they want to consecrate their lives to Him. The “fat” and “blood” of all kinds of animals don’t please Him. They pretend to acknowledge His right to it, but in practice they do what they like. What a variety of sacrifices they bring and they do it exactly as it is prescribed. But He cannot be happy about it. They come to appear before Him with straight faces and trample His courts ( ). Look how religious they are! But who asked that of them? He certainly did not. It is better for them to stay at home than to come hypocritically, because if they do, the offerings they bring are “worthless” ( ). They do not benefit at all, they have no effect at all. The “incense” they bring is “an abomination” to Him. The LORD rejects with disgust their whole service. Everything with which they think they are honoring Him with is nothing but spiritual selfishness. It serves only to satisfy their religious feelings. There is nothing for the LORD. The feast days and the associated meetings are also an abomination to Him. “I cannot endure” them, He must say, for He is the God of justice, and what they do is “iniquity”. Even if they hold a “solemn assembly” – these are the holy assemblies during the seven annual feast days described in Leviticus 23 – it is a reprehensible occupation to Him. They are feast days for self-indulgence, while there is no place for the LORD. They are therefore no longer “the LORD’s appointed times” ( ), but their own feasts. He therefore also calls them “ your new moon [festivals], your appointed feasts” ( ; cf. ). He hates them with all His soul. They are a burden to Him and He is weary of bearing them (cf. ). We would say: He is sick of it. The language is extremely powerful and penetrating. God expresses in an almost emotional way His condemnation of their reprehensible service. He wants to convince His people of the abhorrence He has for their coming to appear before Him. Without knowing it, many are blind to what is appropriate for the LORD (cf. ) and have defended themselves against these accusations. They are o so satisfied with themselves and their service. He who approaches God hypocritically in prayer He does not see or hear ( ). He listens only if the practice – of which the hands speak – is pure (cf. ; ). They stand in the temple praying with hands spread out, but God does not listen to them, for their hands are covered with blood. They commit injustice in secret and so they come before Him. Nice praying in public, while the practice is in conflict with that, He abhors it. He says of their drawing near to Him that they draw near to Him with their mouths and honor Him with their lips, but that they remove their hearts far from Him ( ). God abhors a purely outward religion, then, now and in the future. The Christian’s conscience can also be so seared that he can have the appearance of a Christian practice ( ) while living in his sins.

‏ Isaiah 1:11-15

Hypocritical Sacrifices

Isaiah represents the voice of the remnant when he acknowledges in Isa 1:9 that it is thanks to God’s grace that they did not become like Sodom and Gomorrah. This does not apply to the wicked mass to whom he addresses the word in Isa 1:10-20. Spiritually speaking, the condition of Jerusalem and Judah resembles that of Sodom and Gomorrah (Eze 16:49). Jerusalem and Judah exhibit characteristics such as pride, exuberance and worry-free rest. In the future, this will be spiritually the case with the Jews in their temple who they have rebuilt in unbelief in Jerusalem (Rev 11:8).

Isaiah addresses the leaders of Jerusalem in the first place (Isa 1:10). He speaks to them unflatteringly as “rulers of Sodom”. He also addresses God’s people, whom he calls just as unflatteringly “you people of Gomorrah”. This means that their spiritual state will irrevocably lead to God’s judgment. Therefore, he calls upon the leaders to “hear the word of the LORD” and exhorts the people to “give ear to the instruction of our God”.

On top of that, and this is really shocking, they cover their depravity with a garment of religiosity. It is the religion of Cain. They multiply “sacrifices” to God (Isa 1:11), but He rejects them. They are worthless to Him because they are brought with a hypocritical and cold heart (Isa 29:13; Hos 6:6; Amos 5:21-24; Mic 6:6-8).

They may bring many sacrifices, but He abhors them. He has had enough of their “burnt offerings of rams”. The ram is the animal of the sacrifice of consecration. By bringing a ram, they pretend that they want to consecrate their lives to Him. The “fat” and “blood” of all kinds of animals don’t please Him. They pretend to acknowledge His right to it, but in practice they do what they like. What a variety of sacrifices they bring and they do it exactly as it is prescribed. But He cannot be happy about it.

They come to appear before Him with straight faces and trample His courts (Isa 1:12). Look how religious they are! But who asked that of them? He certainly did not. It is better for them to stay at home than to come hypocritically, because if they do, the offerings they bring are “worthless” (Isa 1:13). They do not benefit at all, they have no effect at all. The “incense” they bring is “an abomination” to Him. The LORD rejects with disgust their whole service. Everything with which they think they are honoring Him with is nothing but spiritual selfishness. It serves only to satisfy their religious feelings. There is nothing for the LORD.

The feast days and the associated meetings are also an abomination to Him. “I cannot endure” them, He must say, for He is the God of justice, and what they do is “iniquity”. Even if they hold a “solemn assembly” – these are the holy assemblies during the seven annual feast days described in Leviticus 23 – it is a reprehensible occupation to Him. They are feast days for self-indulgence, while there is no place for the LORD.

They are therefore no longer “the LORD’s appointed times” (Lev 23:2), but their own feasts. He therefore also calls them “your new moon [festivals], your appointed feasts” (Isa 1:14; cf. Jn 5:1 ; Jn 6:4 ; Jn 7:2). He hates them with all His soul. They are a burden to Him and He is weary of bearing them (cf. Isa 7:13). We would say: He is sick of it.

The language is extremely powerful and penetrating. God expresses in an almost emotional way His condemnation of their reprehensible service. He wants to convince His people of the abhorrence He has for their coming to appear before Him. Without knowing it, many are blind to what is appropriate for the LORD (cf. Rev 3:17-18) and have defended themselves against these accusations. They are o so satisfied with themselves and their service.

He who approaches God hypocritically in prayer He does not see or hear (Isa 1:15). He listens only if the practice – of which the hands speak – is pure (cf. 1Tim 2:8; Psa 24:4-5 ; Psa 66:18). They stand in the temple praying with hands spread out, but God does not listen to them, for their hands are covered with blood. They commit injustice in secret and so they come before Him. Nice praying in public, while the practice is in conflict with that, He abhors it.

He says of their drawing near to Him that they draw near to Him with their mouths and honor Him with their lips, but that they remove their hearts far from Him (Isa 29:13). God abhors a purely outward religion, then, now and in the future. The Christian’s conscience can also be so seared that he can have the appearance of a Christian practice (2Tim 3:5) while living in his sins.