It’s 11pm and I can’t sleep. My mind has been quite sour all day so I turned to scripture. Just yesterday I encouraged church people to read through Isaiah since we’ll be talking about it over the next three weeks. So here I am, lying in bed reading the opening chapters and this passage stood out:
What should I think about all your sacrifices? says the LORD . I’m fed up with entirely burned offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts. I don’t want the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked this from you, this trampling of my temple’s courts? Stop bringing worthless offerings. Your incense repulses me. New moon, sabbath, and the calling of an assembly— I can’t stand wickedness with celebration! I hate your new moons and your festivals. They’ve become a burden that I’m tired of bearing. When you extend your hands, I’ll hide my eyes from you. Even when you pray for a long time, I won’t listen. Your hands are stained with blood. Wash! Be clean! Remove your ugly deeds from my sight. Put an end to such evil; learn to do good. Seek justice: help the oppressed; defend the orphan; plead for the widow.
Isaiah 1:11-17 CEB
https://bible.com/bible/37/isa.1.11-17.CEB
I have no interpretation at this moment but a million thoughts.
“I can’t stand your wickedness…”
“Put an end to such evil and learn to do good.”
These are the things I will meditate on as I hope for sleep.
Meriah J Tigner 