Even Prayer Is Rendered Useless

Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.” Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.” “What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings. I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!” [Isaiah 1.10-20]

Pretty much, God hates religion. All the pretense of spirituality without the substance of spirituality sickens God our Father. Under this circumstance, even prayer offends Yahweh and is rendered useless.

The solution however is simple and yet highly complex at the same time. We are to simply wash ourselves and get 'clean.' But, how deep are the stains of sin in our lives? The complexity lies in the extent we are willing to go to get clean.

I find it interesting today that God would also say that if we would only obey Him that we would have plenty to eat.

Father, I know much of this scripture today is 'for me.' But I feel strongly that it is 'for Your people' also.