Bible Reading: Isaiah 1:1-17
Key Verse: Verse 13 – “Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.”
Key Words: Bring no more vain oblations
An oblation is a gift, offering or sacrifice. It’s interesting to me that Isaiah ministered during the time of Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz. If you begin reading in II Chronicles 26, you see that Uzziah argued with the priest in the temple. His son, Jotham, wouldn’t go to the temple and his grandson, Ahaz, worshiped false gods. In our everyday language we would say Daddy argued in church, the son wouldn’t go to church and the grandson worshiped false gods. But no doubt, Isaiah had them in mind when he mentioned vain (empty) oblations (gifts, offerings, sacrifices).
I think of the terrorists who hijacked the four planes on September 11, 2001, and how they believed that their sacrifice would please their god. That’s one thing, but it is our God to Whom people are bringing vain oblations. Why are they vain? We read in verse 10 that God calls them rulers of Sodom. Their lives are impure. They are living in sin and enjoying the pleasures of it, but they are still bringing their gifts, offerings and sacrifices which God calls vain because of their unclean hearts.
Think for a moment: if someone were bringing you some food and as you are about to accept it you notice cat hair all over their clothes, dirt on their hands, and they see a fly and put down the food, kill the fly with their hands, pick the food back up and bring it to you. Would you accept? Neither would I. Well, that is often what people offer to God. They have spiritually dirty hands; and as a result, they offer vain oblations to God. No wonder God says, Bring no more oblations.
What to do:
✞ God uses the offerings and gifts from a clean heart. Is your heart clean from bitterness, malice, worldliness, etc.?
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