Worship Over Rituals

Scripture: Indeed, thus says the Lord to the house of Israel:

Seek Me and live!
    But do not seek Bethel,
and do not enter into Gilgal
    or cross over to Beersheba;
for Gilgal will surely go into captivity,
    and Bethel shall be no more.

Seek the Lord and live,
    or He will break out like fire in the house of Joseph,
and it will devour Bethel,
    with no one to quench it.

Amos 5:4-6

Observation: As Amos is pronouncing judgment on Israel - several times declaring judgment and at least twice referring to the future exile of Israel by the Assyrians - he makes this specific instruction - seek the Lord and live! There are qualifying statements. They are not to seek out the holy places of God. The given reason is that these places will be captured. In other words, the attacks and judgment are coming regardless of any effort to seek the Lord.

However, there is also the implication supported by the larger passage that the issue is the heart of individuals. The Lord wants people who will truly seek him. He does not want people who will just ritually visit holy places and conform with sacrificial practices. This is a theme of several prophets leading to the destruction of Israel and later Judah ... that God has always sought simple, loving hearts of worship, and not legal compliance, which was always to be nothing more than an outpouring of faith and a means for closeness to God.

Application: As Christians, we now have rituals ... Sunday service, hymns, communion. These are not bad. However, they are to be the result of worshipful hearts yearning for closeness to God. This was always the problem with Israel, and it is the problem with some churches today - that they perform the rituals as a set of procedures, and not as an outpouring of worship.

Prayer: Lord, I do love you. I sometimes fall into the idea of certain efforts as chores, such as Sunday service or current efforts to coordinate volunteers. However, in my heart I know I do these things due to my love for and faith in you. Help me to keep my mind on you at all times, in all things, please. I seek your kingdom and your face. I seek thy will to be done on earth. I seek to make my body a living sacrifice working to serve you, as my true act of worship. Amen.