WHEN WORSHIP IS REJECTED

“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me.  Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps." Amos 5:21 - 23
To a casual observer, without knowledge of the context, God's words in Amos would seem shocking. How could God reject what He, in great detail, had commanded? When they came to worship, apparently Israel was obeying the instructions of the Pentateuch regarding proper worship procedures, yet God was absolutely rejecting what they offered to Him.

God wanted Israel to "seek good, not evil"; to "Hate evil, love good, maintain justice in the courts." God's desire: "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream." Amos 5:14, 15, 24

Instead, many of those in Israel brought offerings to God, played the correct worship music, observed the proper holy occasions but ignored the needs of the poor, did not protect the vulnerable, used bribes to gain advantage and rejected honest business dealings.

Our sin may not be as blatant as was that of Israel in their worst days. Yet we must remember that worship, if not generated from a life of obedience, is repugnant to our Holy God in any generation. 

I wonder how much of the worship in what appear to be solid evangelical congregations, is displeasing to God. Could it be that in spite of our fine buildings, biblical knowledge, great electronic equipment, talented leaders and generous offerings, our worship music, our Sunday services may displease Him?

Always it comes back to our hearts and our obedience, doesn't it. Do we really love the One we worship and are we actively obeying His Word? 

Do we hate evil and love righteousness? We do well to examine ourselves personally and as congregations. How tragic if one day we stand condemned with the Israel to whom Amos preached.