The Book Of Isaiah. Day 185, False Worship Judged

As Isaiah has been concluding the prophecies the Lord has given him, we have been looking ahead to the 1,000 year era known as the millennial reign of Christ, also to the final judgment, and also to the eternal kingdom. The portion we are about to look at today appears to involve the time period prior to the millennium or during the millennium.

We know from the Scriptures that there will be a third temple in the end times. This may be the temple that is referenced in today's passage, for we also know that there will not be a temple during the eternal kingdom. (We spoke about that yesterday.) The time period in view here seems to be after the third temple is built, when the Jewish people resume bringing offerings and sacrifices. But anyone who brings them in a wrong spirit of false worship will be judged. The Lord is not deceived.

"But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog's neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig's blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is like one who worships an idol." (Isaiah 66:3a) How do we know the Lord is speaking of those who have no reverence in their hearts for Him? He will explain this in the next verse, but for now we will discuss the comparisons He makes in the first part of verse 3.

Bulls and lambs were acceptable sacrifices in the Old Testament's sacrificial system. Grain and incense were acceptable offerings. But sacrifices and offerings become unacceptable when they are made by hearts that are far from God. There are many reasons why a person who doesn't accept God as their Lord would bring sacrifices and offerings. They might do it to appease their families. They might do it in order to have a good reputation in their community. They might do it in order to enjoy fellowship with others at the temple. They might do it thinking God won't know they aren't truly repenting in their hearts and that He will answer a special petition. 

But the one who brings things to the temple in the wrong spirit is like one who brings an unclean offering. Sacrificing a person is an abomination to the Lord, so He compares the bringing of a bull to that, saying that a bull brought in the wrong spirit is an abomination. Bringing a lamb is like bringing a dog (which would be an "unclean" animal, since only the animals that were "clean" for eating could be brought) and also it was unacceptable to bring an animal that had already been killed or injured (the mention of the broken neck). Bringing a grain offering without a spirit of thankfulness to God is as abhorrent to Him as pouring out the blood of a pig (another unclean animal) on the altar. Burning incense to the Lord without any reverence in the heart is as sickening to Him as burning incense to an idol.

We know the people He speaks of above are bringing things in the wrong spirit because of what He says next. "They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations; so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in My sight and chose what displeases Me." (Isaiah 66:3b-4) 

Fake worship will be judged by Him. He knows what's in our hearts; He made our hearts and has no trouble reading them. A person may be able to fool his fellow man into thinking he loves the Lord, but he can't fool God.