Isaiah 1.10-17

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. [Isaiah 1.10-17]

God doesn't want all our sacrifices.

God gets no pleasure from sacrifices with all their blood.

God does not want our ceremonious rituals.

God sees meaningless gifts and offerings as disgusting.

God looks upon the pious celebrations of festivals and the Sabbath with hatred.

God refuses to even look upon those who pray when "their hands are covered in innocent blood."

God instead demands: wash and be clean, get rid of sin, give up evil ways, learn to do good, seek justice, help those who are oppressed, defend orphans, and protect widows.

Check this out:

Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.” [Mark 12.38-40]

Father, forgive me for thinking it pleases You for me to go through rituals and be regular in church. It is obvious that, long before Jesus came, You already made Your case against all the ritual and ceremony spelled out by the Law. But it also stands out that getting rid of all the ritual does not free us from all obligation!