Sunday, September 13th I am going to begin preaching from the book of Isaiah. Normally I preach through every passage of a book but because Isaiah is 66 chapters long I am going to cover the main themes in 12 weeks.
I titled the sermon series “Isaiah: Beyond Religion” because Israel, at the time, was very religious but their heart was far from God. Lots of religious activity but little compassion, mercy and justice. Isaiah reminds me of a song written and sung by Jon Foreman from Swithchfoot, “Instead Of A Show.” This song was actually taken directly from Amos 5:21-24.
[21] “I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
[22] Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
I will not look upon them.
[23] Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
[24] But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Amos and Isaiah prophesied at the same time in Israel’s history and therefore the song applies to both books. Check out Isaiah 1:11-17 to see the similarities.
I hate all your show and pretense
The hypocrisy of your praise
The hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stop up my ears when you’re singing ’em
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
Your eyes are closed when you’re praying
You sing right along with the band
You shine up your shoes for services
There’s blood on your hands
You turned your back on the homeless
And the ones that don’t fit in your plan
Quit playing religion games
There’s blood on your hands
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show
Let’s argue this out
If your sins are blood red
Let’s argue this out
You’ll be one of the clouds
Let’s argue this out
Quit fooling around
Give love to the ones who can’t love at all
Give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
Stand up for the ones who can’t stand at all, all
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show
I look forward to studying, preaching and blogging through the gospel of Isaiah and hope you are encouraged/challenged along the way.
MichaelWallenmeyer.com 