The reading in Advent will usually get around to Isaiah and this year it dives right into Isaiah 1. To put it succinctly, God is not happy. 

As I work on the Sermon on the Mount and a “pro-life ethic,” I am drawn to the parallels here in Isaiah 1. A quote I posted from Craig Keener really drives at the problem in Isaiah 1.

A disciple of the kingdom who does not live like a disciple of the kingdom…  is worth about as much as tasteless salt or invisible light.

We MUST move beyond the keeping of regulations to the understanding of covenant relationship. This is the issue of Isaiah 1.

God is completely fed up with the sacrifices.

“Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates…” (Isa. 1:14, NRSV)

What IS important?

“…learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow.” (Isa. 1:17, NRSV)

Of course, we have the wonderful human ability to turn that verse into a new legalism.

What is needed? Live in such a way that it reflects the covenant relationship with God. 

How? By knowing him. 

It’s not about knowing his regulations alone. It is hearing his heart in giving his law to us. In a relationship, there are still boundaries. But, in a relationship, we love that other person, or honor them so much, we don’t want to cross those boundaries. 

In the covenant relationship with God we learn to understand he desire the best for us, and to fulfill that relationship we obey. 

Too often, however, we default to fake worship.

For “evangelicals” or “conservatives,” we default to a “good” worship service or “doing” witnessing or “reading” the Word. We perform the duty and we feel better.

For “liberals” or “mainline” or whatever else you may want to label other streams… the default is “good works.” We get caught up in the action of what WE label “justice,” then look down our noses at those who don’t perform those exact same tasks.

On either side, when we perform the tasks to ease our consciences, we are into fake worship. 

This is what the Lord desires: loving him and loving others.

Loving him is hearing his heart and following his desires.

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land…” (Isa. 1:19, NRSV)

When we know his heart and step out, we find out what it really means to love the neighbor.

In this Advent season, prepare the way. Prepare your heart to truly love our Lord. And follow him in loving others.