Theological Commentary: Click Here
Isaiah 68
poses a great question from the Lord.
When we claim to observe His statutes and follow His ways, what is our
motivation? At the heart of this
question is the idea that motivation is every bit as important as action. God isn’t happy when we do the right thing
for outward show if there is no inward desire.
A sacrifice isn’t a sacrifice if we are doing it for the show and not
because of our understanding of our own guilt.
Fasting is pointless if we put our fasting on display for others and
have no inner recognition of our sin. If
there is nothing meaningful within us, then at best we have put on a show. At worst, we have manipulated the ways of God
to feign genuine righteousness.
This is a common
theme throughout the prophets. God
loathes sacrifices done without meaning.
What is a burnt offering to Him, who created the world? Can He not make His own sacrifice?
What God
longs for is a broken and contrite heart.
What God longs for something that He cannot force, which is for our
hearts to turn to Him and desire His ways.
He wants us to want Him! That’s
why He gave us free will in the first place!
If God wanted smooth running sacrifices that happened perfectly at the same
time every year, He could have created automatons to execute the plan. He didn’t, because He wants us to want Him in
return!
God speaks
to His people. He wants them to fast
because they recognize their guilt. He wants
them to care for the poor because they understand how God has cared for them. He wants them to watch out for the orphan and
the widow because they genuinely desire the pursuit of righteousness for
themselves. God wants us to want His
ways, not just execute them.
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