I was reading recently in the book of Amos, and I came across these disturbing verses:
“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.” Amos 4:21-22 (NKJV)
Why would God so despise these special days and times of worship? After all, weren’t these moments dedicated to Him?
We find the answer just a few verses later:
“Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? You also carried Sikkuth your king and Chiun, your idols, the star of your gods, which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,” Says the Lord, whose Name is the God of hosts.” Amos 4:25-27 (NKJV)
Here’s the key—the Israelites DID worship God and give Him offerings, but they did not worship Him exclusively. For the nation of Israel at this time, worshiping God was summarized in the phrase “God AND . . .” How often does that describe our own worship and the worship of Christians in our generation? We do indeed worship God . . . but we ALSO worship so much else in our culture . . . from politicians to sports to money . . . to TV shows that actually include the word “Idol”!
The Lord is not looking for “God AND . . .” worship . . . He’s looking for “God ONLY” worship. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes and bring conviction to our hearts for the additional gods we have allowed to come alongside the God of hosts in our worship.
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