The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.11 Pt 2

Isa 1:11 To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

What is this continuous repetitive and hollow action the people are taking that has incensed God?  To understand all this, we need to look at and get some understanding of the intent and purpose of “sacrifices,” so that we can understand why God is so disgusted with their efforts.

Let’s look at the five “W’s” and an “H.”

1. Why?

Part of the reason why sacrifices were a necessity is because it illustrated:

A) Prayer

Psa 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice.

B) Thanksgiving

Psa 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

(Psa  107:22; 116:17; Hbr 13:15)

C) Devotedness

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

(Phl 2:17)

D) Benevolence

Hbr 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

(Phl 4:18)

E) Righteousness

Psa 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

(Psa 51:19)

F) A Broken Spirit

Psa 51:17    The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

G) Martyrdom

2Ti 4:6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

(Phl 2:7)

H) In faith of a coming Saviour

   Hbr 11:4,17,28

2. What?

The “what” here, will be a reference to what sacrifice is, and what is required to partake in it, as well as what it signifies.

A) It is a Divine Institution

Hbr 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

(Gen 3:21; 1:29; 9:3; 4:4-5)

B) That is to be offered to God alone

Jdg 13:16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he [was] an angel of the LORD.

(Exd 22:20; 2Ki 17:36)

C) Which when offered to God, is an acknowledgement of God as the supreme God.

2Ki 5:17    And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.

(Jon 1:16)

D) What it consisted of and what was required:

1. Clean animals or bloody sacrifices (Gen 8:20)

        a. Required to be perfect and without blemish

        (Lev 22:19; Deu 15:21; 17:1; Mal 1:8, 14)

2. The fruits of the earth or sacrifices without blood (Gen 4:4; Lev 2:1)

        a. Generally the best of their kind

        (Gen 4:4; 1Sa 15:22; Psa 66:15; Isa 1:11)

3. An acknowledgment of sin (Hbr 10:3)

E) The different types of sacrifices:

                1. Burnt offering wholly consumed by fire

(Lev 1:1-17; 1Ki 18:38)

                2. Sin offering for sins of ignorance

                (Lev 4:1-35)

                3. Trespass offering for intentional sins

                (Lev 6:1-7; 7:1-7)

                            4. Peace offering

                            (Lev 3:1-17)

F) The problem?

1. Offered to false gods, are offered to devils

 (Lev 17:7; Deu 32:17; Psa 106:37; 1Cr 10:20)