Verse of the Day 5/20

Through the Bible - 1 Chronicles 3-5, John 8:12-38

 

Good morning,

Our pastor, in his message last weekend referrenced John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. NKJV  The Samaritans had a form of religion some parts of Judaism mixed with other gods.  True religion, true faith in the one and only God had been corrupted.

The same practice has been going on through the ages.  Many choose their own religion, as if going through a supermarket. 

For today's verse we go back to the book of Amos in a passage which deals with false versus true worship.

Amos 5:23-24 (New King James Version)  Take away from Me the noise of your songs,
      For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.
       ²⁴ But let justice run down like water,
      And righteousness like a mighty stream.

There is much debate today about forms of worship including the use of "stringed instruments".  These verses indicate what is at the heart of true worship.

 

Like we do today, the Israelites worshipped God, but carried around with them images of detestable idols with them.  Some complain of the "noise" of our services today but have no regard for the weightier things of worship described here.  It's not talking about the social justice in the laws of government, it's God's justice flowing through us like water, as a mighty stream.  The image of living water on display again.

 

If we follow the advice here, put down our idols, and let justice, love, mercy and compassion flow as a church and individuals, you can be sure that God would be pleased with our worship whether with stringed instruments or pipe organs.

The hour is coming and now is the time to worship in spirit and in truth.

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Amos 5:21   " I hate, I despise your feast days,
      And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.
       ²² Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
      I will not accept them,
      Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.
       ²³ Take away from Me the noise of your songs,
      For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.
       ²⁴ But let justice run down like water,
      And righteousness like a mighty stream.
       ²⁵ " Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings
      In the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
       ²⁶ You also carried Sikkuth your king
      And Chiun, your idols,
      The star of your gods,
      Which you made for yourselves.
       ²⁷ Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,"
      Says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.