The Word for Today (October 11, 2019)

“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and cereal offerings, I will not accept them, and the peace offerings of your fatted beasts I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:21-24).

When you read these words of God through the prophet Amos, are you tempted to ask God if He has ever heard of the Book of Leviticus? How could God reject sacrifice and offerings?

Burnt offerings, cereal offerings, and peace offerings are all part of Leviticus. Harps and songs were part of the worship in the Temple.

By the way, God loves our offerings and songs when they are for Him from our hearts. He loves when we live in joy, peace, and righteousness. He thrills when we set up systems so that everyone is treated with respect and appreciation. He wants justice and righteousness.

But when our worship is to buy God’s favor or simply to make us feel better about ourselves, God “hates” and despises our whole system of worship and offerings.

When we give an offering, our main question should be, “Will God receive my offering?”

God told the people of Amos’ day that He would not receive their offering or listen to their songs because they lacked justice and righteousness.

God wants our worship to change our lives. He wants us to give ourselves wholly and completely to Him. Then, our worship will have meaning to us and to our great God.

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