"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11
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Isaiah 1:10-17 - Isaiah's Rebuke:
Judah's Feasts Displease Him Before Captivity

(10) Jerusalem, your rulers and your people are like those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Listen to what the LORD is saying to you. Pay attention to what our God is teaching you. (11) He says, "Do you think I want all these sacrifices you keep offering to me? I have had more than enough of the sheep you burn as sacrifices and of the fat of your fine animals. I am tired of the blood of bulls and sheep and goats. (12) Who asked you to bring me all this when you come to worship me? Who asked you to do all this tramping around in my Temple? (13) It's useless to bring your offerings. I am disgusted with the smell of the incense you burn. I cannot stand your New Moon Festivals, your Sabbaths, and your religious gatherings; they are all corrupted by your sins. (14) I hate your New Moon Festivals and holy days; they are a burden that I am tired of bearing. (15) "When you lift your hands in prayer, I will not look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood. (16) Wash yourselves clean. Stop all this evil that I see you doing. Yes, stop doing evil (17) and learn to do right. See that justice is done---help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows."

Good News Bible copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society.

Isaiah 1:10-17 chronicles the time before Ezra and Nehemiah when Judah observed the feasts, yet in a wrong spirit and with reprehensible conduct. Isaiah preached this to the Jews about one hundred years before they went into captivity to Babylon.

This is a clear indictment of their spirit and attitude, advancing strong proof of why God later said through Ezekiel that Israel and Judah went into captivity because of idolatry and Sabbath-breaking (Ezekiel 20:12-21).

There is no reason to believe that, just because God says "your" new moons and "your" feasts, they were not the ones He appointed, at least in name. He could rightly call them "your feasts" because their keeping of them was so abominable that they bore no resemblance to His intent in commanding them to be observed. They were completely discordant with His character, as the listing of their sins shows.

He calls their giving of offerings, which were part of the spiritual aspects of keeping the feasts, vain and trampling His courts. He designates their prayers as an abomination, and their keeping of the feasts wearying to Him. Clearly, He had "had it up to here" with their Sabbath and festival observances. Have we examined our conduct recently in relation to our attitudes, approaches, and expectations for the Feast?

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
Amos 5 and the Feast of Tabernacles



 

Topics:

Feasts of God

Feasts, Keeping Properly

Feasts, Keeping Spiritually

Idolatrous Religious Influence

Idolatry

Sabbath Breaking

Sabbath Keeping

Traditions of Men

Way We Worship

Worship

Worship, False

Worshipping in Vain




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