Worthless sacrifices.
I. SACRIFICES ARE WORTHLESS WHEN THEY ARE NOT OFFERED IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT. The mere gifts are of no use to God-(Psalms 50:8-13). They are only valuable as expressing the thoughts and feelings of the giver. Religious services are simply good as the outward expression of worship.
1. Sacrifices are worthless when they are not prompted by spiritual devotion; religious services are unacceptable when they are only external performances. The true sacrifice must be of the will, i.e. self-dedication.
2. Sacrifices are worthless when they are accompanied by immorality of conduct. Worship at church is a mockery if daily conduct in the world is corrupt (Isaiah 1:15).
II. WORTHLESS SACRIFICES MAY HAVE ALL THE EXTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICES.
1. They may be offered to God. There may be a real intention to approach God, yet this is vain if the heart is wrong.
2. They may be according to prescribed order. The formally obedient Jews were rigidly subservient to the ordinance of the authorized ritual.
3. They may be costly—incense from Sheba, sweet cane from India. But men cannot buy acceptance with God by signing heavy checks.
III. THE OFFERING OF WORTHLESS SACRIFICES IS A SERIOUS FAULT.
1. It is an insult to God. Better offer nothing than the worthless gift when all he really asks for, the heart, is withheld.
2. It is a source of self-delusion. The offering being given, the conscience feels relieved, false pride is stimulated, and the real spiritual condition is hidden. People have a vague feeling that they have done a good thing in attending church, in sitting out a service, in mechanically following the forms of worship. Yet, as this is really utterly worthless, the impression of self-complacency it produces is highly injurious,