Opening Prayer
Lord, teach us to worship You in spirit and truth. Amen.
Text: Isaiah 1:10-15
Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah: “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.”
Devotion
Do not despise God’s Word, as so many do, but use it at home and in church, and pray and sing to the Lord. Whoever despises God’s Word has no defense against the devil. Whoever despises the Divine Service and the Lord’s Supper and stops reading Scripture every day, his spiritual life wastes away and dies. Whoever does not daily call on the Lord’s name, praying, praising, and giving thanks, will be destroyed by the cares or riches of this life. – But “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Joh 4:24).
1. Your “Divine Service” is not just useless, but wicked and abominable, when you live wickedly and serve Satan. Did the Lord take pleasure in sacrificial offerings and burnt offerings from the rulers of Sodom and the people of Gomorrah? Your offerings and your hymns of praise are worthless grain offerings and abominable incense before Him. Whoever is faithful in attending church, but otherwise is wicked, angry, bitter, and greedy, let him hear the Lord’s words: “I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.” Whoever strictly observes Sundays and festivals and seldom or never forsakes opportunities for edification, but considers himself good in his own heart and despises others, let him hear the Lord’s words: “Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. … When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?” O let us not bring the offering of Cain before the Lord! Hatred is murder, and it is horrible to fold bloody hands in prayer to the Holy One in heaven!
2. When you read and hear the Word of God, and when you pray, then stand with your devotion to the Lord, your God. “Guard your foot when you go to God’s house, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools.” When you go to the assembly or to your private room, then seriously try to concentrate your thoughts. People don’t appear before royalty in dirty clothes. So bathe and dress up when you go to meet with your God. Collect your thoughts, consider the importance of what you are doing, and let your soul be serious, and forget the whole world. And when you stand and hear the Lord’s Word or speak with Him, then do not let your heart wander here and there. It would be very unseemly and offensive if you stood before your earthly ruler and looked around and talked to others, while he is speaking with you. The Lord never stays away when we gather around His Word or read and pray in private. “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Exo 3:5). By the Lord’s grace you will be able to concentrate your thoughts and feelings on Him. Then it is delightful to attend Divine Service, and then the Bible and prayer become precious.
3. Above all do not go to church to make a good appearance before God and men, or to earn a reward for being “God-fearing.” Nothing is as abominable as hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Use the Means of Grace to edify your soul. That we all need so very much.
Closing Prayer
Lord, give us faithfulness, humility, devotion, and heartfelt hunger and thirst for the spiritual power of the Word. Amen.
Hymn
This is God’s House, the Gate of Heav’n,
Though this I was not knowing!
So long to sleep I had been giv’n,
When God His way was showing.
Avert my eyes from things of earth,
And grant me Jacob’s hope and faith,
To see celestial glowing!
Landstad: Her er Guds Hus og Himlens Port L 6:2 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Mit Freuden zart (ELH 26); alternate hymn: Glorious things of thee are spoken ELH 214:4 or O how holy is this place ELH 28