Isaiah 1:10-16 Exposition

According to Falwell, verse ten addresses the people of Judah as if they were the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah goes on to criticize their hypocritical use of the Law. The word “sacrifices” (zebach) in verse eleven referred to animals offered for the payment of sins. The “burnt offerings” referred to the ascension offerings that rose into God’s presence, and were totally given over to God. The Jews were failing in this because they were only outwardly bringing offerings to God. Their hearts were still turned away from God. The “meaningless offerings” spoken of in verse thirteen meant offerings that had no worth or value. God even thought of their religious meetings as evil because their hearts were not right before God. The “appointed feasts” found in verse fourteen are likely referring to the Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Their prayers will not be listened to because they will not repent. In verse sixteen, the Jews are admonished to “make themselves clean” and to take their evil deeds out of God’s sight and to “stop doing wrong. God is not pleased anyone’s religious practices unless their heart is right. God will not be pleased if I go through modern rituals such as of going to church, giving offerings, sacrificing for God, and praying only to look religious. Acting like I am a Christian when my heart does not belong to the Lord is hypocrisy. Religious practices should come from my love for God rather than from a habitual ritual that I feel compelled to perform.

Spirits in Chapel

Every Tuesday, my Believer’s Church Theology class in broken up by an ACTS Chapel. This week, Paul Borthwick spoke. His told us that his Ph.D. program had 2/3 international students. In one of his first classes, the teacher got up, and, without introducing himself or anything, asked the students to rise their hands if they believe that the room is presently filled with good spirits and evil spirits. All of the “white boys” didn’t know whether or not to raise their hands, but all of the international students raised their hands without hesitation. I, as a “white girl,” didn’t know if they should raise their hands or not. Borthwick went on to point out that there are good and evil spirits here. We tend to ignore them because of our materialistic (rationalistic) way of thinking in North America. Even when we pray and God answers, we tend to explain the results away. We need to remember that the journey of the spirit is what we are called to.