No one really likes being called a hypocrite. People outside of the church often use that as an excuse as to why they won’t attend. They say that the church is filled with hypocrites. Often then, some people in the church will get offended or become even more self-righteous. And they certainly don’t like it if a fellow church member calls another a hypocrite. However, what if it is the Lord God who is calling us hypocrites? In our Scripture passage today, as we approach Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent later this week, we read from the prophet Isaiah when the Lord called out His people for their hypocrisy.
Many of the people of Judah during Isaiah’s day were very outwardly religious. They kept all of the religious holy days and festivals. They fasted when they should, and brought all of the required sacrifices to the Temple. They prayed at the appointed times. If someone were to observe them they would conclude that they were very religious. However, most of them were just outwardly religious, but inwardly they were rebellious. Despite their rituals, their hearts were far from God.
God gave Isaiah a message, and that was to proclaim to the people of Judah their sins (vs. 1). The prophet does so without softening his message. All of their religious activity was hypocrisy, masking a deep rebellion. God told Isaiah to confront His people with the truth without any coddling or flattery. He takes hypocrisy seriously, both back then and today. From all outward appearance they seemed devoted to God, following His ways (vs. 2). However, it was all external. Their obedience to Him was only superficial.
The people couldn’t understand - they fasted and prayed, yet it seemed that God took no notice and didn’t see (vs. 3). Their prayers seemed to go unanswered. How often do we feel the same way? We pray, we fast, we go through any number of religious rituals, and then get angry at God. The problem was not with God, but with them. Isaiah proceeded to tell them that they weren’t fasting in order to get closer to God and hear from Him. They fasted while exploiting their workers, and while they were fighting among themselves (vs. 3-4). Their fasting was self-centered, not God centered. How about with us? When we fast and pray, do we continue in our sinful ways, hoping that God will be proud of our fasting and answer our prayers? Religious rituals cannot co-exist with unrighteous living.
The people were in the habit of making a big, outward show of their religiosity, such as wearing sackcloth and ashes so everyone knew they were fasting (vs. 5). Though we don’t usually do that, we have our own ways of trying to appear pious. However, God rejects ritual without righteousness. All God saw was a hypocritical show of religiosity instead of true repentance. True worship requires a heart aligned with God’s Word, not empty ceremony. What God wants is that we show love, compassion, and caring for others in their needs, a practical righteousness flowing from a transformed heart (vs. 6-7). True devotion to God always expresses itself in love, justice, and mercy.
When the people start truly practicing righteousness and following His ways, God’s blessings will follow. His light and health will follow, and He will be our Rear Guard against our enemies (vs. 8). He will be there with us and take care of us. These blessings would come to the people when they started obeying His Word and caring for others (vs. 9-12). God delights to answer prayer when His people walk in integrity. Obedience brings a flourishing in our relationship with the Lord, and an outpouring of His blessings.
God promises to guide us continually (vs. 11). Not a human, or even an angel, but the Lord. We can notice the word “will”. This makes it certain. God will not forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He also promised to guide us continually. We are not led sometimes. We have a perpetual Guide.
As we look back over this passage of Scripture, we learn that God rejects worship that is merely external. True faith produces obedience, compassion, and holiness. God is not impressed by ritual, but by righteousness that reflects His character. We need to show Him genuine devotion, with compassion for others and integrity in our actions. When we do, God promises to continually guide our ways.
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