2013 APRIL WEEK THREE STUDY / ACTIVITY

Week 16:  SUNDAY APRIL 21, 2013

UNACCEPTABLE WORSHIP 3

Main Text: Isaiah 1:11-13

Memory Verse: Proverbs15:8

 

Introduction

The prophet reprimands the people for participating in evil deeds while continuing to bring sacrifices to the Lord and to pray and worship Him. Our praise and worship are abominable to God if our hearts are not sincerely devoted to Him and His holy ways.

Discussion Questions

1.        What kind of sacrifice did the people bring to the Lord? (Isa. 1:11)

2.        In verse 13 God refers to the sacrifices as meaningless. Why?

3.        Why would God not accept their sacrifices and worship? (Isa. 1:23)

4.       Why would God not even listen to their prayer? (Isa. 1:15)

5.        In what specific ways did God ask them to repent? (Isa. 1:16-17)

6.       What is God’s promise to them if they repent? (Isa. 1:18,19)

Conclusion

In the main text for today, the prophet has some harsh words for the people and rulers of Jerusalem. The people were interested in the rituals of worship without any devotion to God. They brought sacrifices to the altar only to go back to their evil ways. They attended the temple services yet continued in bribery, exploitation of the vulnerable and even bloodshed. In the New Testament, the Lord denounces this two-faced hypocritical behaviour among the Pharisees (Matt 23). In the church today, there are regular church goers who see church attendance as a social obligation which must be fulfilled religiously every Sunday. Then on other days of the week, they will pursue every shady business deal, indulge in every fleshly desire, lie through the teeth, spew out slanderous and defaming stories in the name politics, only to appear in church on Sunday all sanctimonious to worship. Such behaviour is utterly abhorrent to God and such worship is unacceptable to him. The prophet calls it an insulting trampling of his courts.