Ritual vs Righteousness

The children of Israel had lost their way. They had become (for the most part) like those that lived around them. They had taken on their lifestyle, their attitudes and their gods. God's people were no different than the rest of the world. Yes, they continued to keep some to the traditions of their fathers, they would go to temple, they would make their offerings, they would sing a few songs and then go home and live just like their neighbors and God would have none of it. He was angry and rightly so. These people had made a promise, a covenant with Him that they would be His people and be a light to the rest of the world. They would live in obedience to Him and would be a blessed people because of it.

Time passes and His people had forgotten what He had done for them. All the warnings of His prophets fell on deaf ears. They had abandoned righteousness and retained ritual. They attended the assemblies, but were unchanged by the encounter. They sang songs of worship with their lips, but their hearts were somewhere else. They made offerings, but retained the best for themselves.

So God says to His people:
"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. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:21-240)

He uses strong language to get His point across. Words like "hate', "despise" and "stench". He tells them that their offerings are unacceptable, that their songs were just noise to Him. The people that had been a joy to Him had become the source of sadness. This picture is in stark contrast to the time that the temple was completed and God came to live in it and all the people celebrated.

God reminds His people that what He wants is justice and righteousness. Their assemblies were to be an outpouring of love for a God that provided and protected. Their offerings were to be in view of their unrighteousness and God's demand for justice. Their songs were to be filled with praise of the One who is worthy of worship. Without justice and righteousness, His people were missing the point of having a relationship with the Creator. Without those elements, they were just like everyone else.

Thankfully, this could never happen today. (sarcasm) We struggle with the same issues in our lives that the Israelites did 3000 years ago. People are people and God still calls on us to be a people of justice and righteousness. Our assemblies are "despised" by God if we are living lives of injustice and unrighteousness. Our songs are noise to God if our hearts are not filled with the joy of a true relationship with Him. Our offerings are unacceptable if they do not flow from a heart that is filled to overflow with gratitude. May we grow in our pursuit of righteousness and our dedication to justice and may we be a people that offer true worship and avoid ritual.