Dear Christian friends:

During these Wednesday evening Lenten services we are preaching about the theme, Celebrate Life. Another way we celebrate life is by true worship. In our text we learn that all worship does not please God, only true worship pleases Him. So let us attend to our text and consider the theme:

God is much displeased by false worship. Israel worshipped God as hypocrites. They acted like they loved God but in their hearts they did not love Him. How did God know? Because they despised His commandments. They did not love others and one another. God complained about them in our text: "Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast; tell My people of their sins! Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and are so delighted to hear the reading of My laws - just as though they would obey them - just as though they don't despise the commandments of their God.

How anxious they are to worship correctly; oh, how they love the Temple services! "We have fasted before You," they say. "Why aren't You impressed? Why don't You see our sacrifices? Why don't You hear our prayers? We have done much penance, and You don't even notice it!" I'll tell you why! Because you are living in evil pleasure even while you are fasting, and you keep right on oppressing your workers. Look, what good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you any where with Me.

Is that what I want - this doing of penance and bowing like reeds in the wind and putting on sackcloth and covering yourselves with ashes? Is this what you call fasting? No, the kind of fast I want is that you stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor and destitute. Clothe those who are cold and don't hide from relatives who need your help." (vv 1-7) So Israel worshipped God falsely.

How about us? Are we like Israel? We often come to church and worship God, but do we really love God? Remember - if we really love God we will obey His commandments and love one another and all others who need our help. John tells us, "If anyone says, 'I love God," but continues hating his brother, he is a liar." (1 John 4:20)

Look back on your past life. How often have you helped someone? How much do you give for world hunger? How much do you give for agencies Like Lutheran Social Services and Lutheran World Relief? Must we bow our heads in shame? Let us confess to God our false worship and ask for His mercy and forgiveness. Then let us pray for a new heart and new life through Jesus Christ, our Savior, who died on the cross for our sins.

God is much pleased by true worship and He promises to bless us if we celebrate life by true worship. He promises to protect us. We read in verse 8, "If you do these things, God will shed His own glorious light upon you. He will heal you; your godliness will lead you forward, and goodness will be a shield before you, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.”

He promises to hear our prayers when we have trouble and need help: "When you call, the Lord will answer." (v. 9) He promises that we will have more understanding about life, the meaning and purpose of life: "Feed the hungry: Help the poor in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day." (v. 10) He promises us health and prosperity: "And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." (v. 11)

He promises that our deserted, ruined cities like parts of Detroit and Toledo will be re-built. God will bless our city renewal projects if we do right for the blacks and other minority groups: "Your sons will rebuild the long-deserted ruins of your cities." (v.12) If we love God and gladly worship Him, He promises to give us the Holy Spirit more strongly so that we really enjoy going to church and worship God. He will help us enjoy the worship service more than we enjoy the dinner after church: “The Lord will be your delight." (v.14)

So, let's celebrate life by true worship!

Amen.