II.

We Can See 4 Kinds of Unacceptable Worship:

A. The Worship of False Gods: Rom. 1:21 indicts all those who refuse to worship the true God, and
turn their worship towards what they see & touch. We are prone to look to the things around us, and
materialize the spiritual. Idolatry is wrong worship.

B. The Worship of the True God in a Wrong Form: This more accurately describes what the Israelites
did at Sinai. They claimed to be worshiping the true God (the one that brought them out of Egypt). But
they had reduced Him to an image. God did not reveal Himself in any visible form to the Jews because
He knew our tendency to materialize the spiritual. Why? The idolater seeks an image so he can
manipulate his god. It becomes an image of himself.

C. The Worship of the True God in a Self-Styled Manner: Nadab & Abihu,, Saul, Jeroboam & others
were guilty of choosing their way over God’s way. God has revealed the activities of worship that please
Him. To substitute the traditions of men is to make void our worship. Matt 15:8-9 – These people draw
near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain
they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

D. The Worship of the True God, in the Right Manner, But With a Wrong Attitude. After Israel
returned from the captivity of Babylon, they had gotten rid of the false gods, the images of Jehovah, and
even shunned the self-styled religion of their neighbors. But there was an even more insidious problem
with their worship; Their heart was not in it. They were giving – just not the best. This was not a new
problem for Israel. It was seen by the early prophets in Israel’s history:

1. Amos 5:21-25 “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though
you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your
fattened peace offerings. And later on Isaiah spoke to the problem:

2. Isaiah 1:11-15 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have
had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of
lambs or goats. “When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample
My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices…

3. And finally even after the captivity, the sin remained: Mal. 1:7-10 “You offer defiled food on My
altar. But say, `In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, `The table of the LORD is contemptible.’
And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not
evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?”
Says the LORD of hosts. “But now entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us. While this is being
done by your hands, will He accept you favorably?” Says the LORD of hosts. “Who is there even among
you who would shut the doors, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure
in you,” says the LORD of hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.

4. The most critical words of Jesus were reserved for those who claimed to be religious and
worshipers, but were inwardly evil and apathetic. God desires to kindle within us a worshipful spirit
that arise as a sweet aroma before his throne. But we must have a close association with His word to learn
how to worship. The proper object: The one true God, The proper manner: according to revealed truth,
and the proper attitude: with thanksgiving and adoration.