When Good Turns Sour

At one time or another, we have all expected something good but discovered it was sour. Perhaps we’ve poured ourselves a glass of milk only to smell or perhaps to gag on rancid milk.

Can you imagine God gagging and being absolutely repulsed at something which was supposed to be good but which turned out to be repugnant? It has happened.

Through Isaiah, God told his people, “stop bringing meaningless sacrifices! Your incense is detestable to me. … I cannot bear your evil assemblies” (Isiah 1:13). Through song, David acknowledged the same truth. “You (God) do not delight in sacrifice … you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings” (Psalm 51:16). What?

Had not God requested these very aspects of worship? Does God play mind games with his people by asking for something he does not want? Never!

Through the poetry of Isaiah and David, God explained, “Take your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing wrong, learn to do right” (Isaiah 1:16-17). David recognized, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise. … Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar” (Psalm 51:17,19

Although God’s people had offered the right rituals of worship, their hearts were far from him, as evidenced by their sinful and rebellious lifestyle. God who seeks to be in relationship with people will not be mocked by people substituting ritual for contrite hearts.

The message is clear. Unless we repent, our worship is transformed into something repugnant to God. This message is as vital today as it was then.

While Christians do not offer animal sacrifices, we do offer up a sacrifice of praise from the fruit of our lips (Hebrews 13:15).  Is it not wonderful that what God asks of us is not beyond any of us?

Let’s be humble and repentant, a people whose lives are shaped by God’s love, not darkness. As such, let’s gather with repentant and grateful hearts to worship our merciful Almighty God.

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Barry Newton

Barry has worked with congregations in Texas, California and Brazil. He and his wife Sofia have two sons. He believes we should love God above all and that to honor this principle will shape daily decisions and silence competing values. Furthermore, we ought to love people in those ways we would like to be treated.

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