"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) Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah. (11) "What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me? Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats." (12) "When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? (13) "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. (14) "I hate your new moon {festivals} and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing {them.} (15) "So when you spread out your hands {in prayer,} I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. (16) "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, (17) Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.

New American Standard Bible copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

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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