Isaiah 66 True Worship

Isaiah 66 -Half Torah Portion April 21,2023

Initially , I wondered why Isaiah 66 was chosen as the reading to go with the Torah portion for this week.

In the Torah portion for this week , Leviticus 12-15, we find the protective  cleanliness rules that G-d set out to prevent people from dying when He would enter the tabernacle with them.

 In Isaiah 66 :1-4 , we find G-d being scornful of the ridiculous idea that people could ever even imagine building a house that could contain Him:

1 Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?

The remainder of Isaiah 66 has G-d saying what exactly is to happen to those who are not engaged in true worship when He destroys the heavens and earth with fire and brings a new heaven and earth.

"the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." Isaiah 66:24

I wonder if people had become self-righteous and disdainful of those who were not allowed to be in the Holy "habitation" they had created under the supervision of Our Father. Had they misconstrued the Levitical teachings on cleanliness twisting then to mean that the people who were not to enter that initial tabernacle  for their own protection as lesser than themselves?

It  certainly seems so to me, for the next three verses contrast the ones on whom Our Father will look and the ones He will let follow their own folly and imaginations into the pit.

What does Our Father desire? People going through the motions of worship in a way that has become simply tradition? No! 

Creator  says He will look on "the one who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word."

Do you sometimes feel as though you are simply going through the motions and your heart is not fully engaged? It happens to me from time to time too.

I wonder if the writer of the hymn "Create in Me a Clean Heart , Oh God" felt like that from time to time too.

If you suddenly feel like you are just going through the motions and are emotionally distant from G-d, you need to know that you are under spiritual attack! 

Has your relationship with Creator become distant or you feel like you might even be taking His lovingkindness and mercy for granted?

How do you shake off that yoke of oppression and get that awesome , entranced, enhanced, breathless fantastic overawed feeling back where you are worshipping the Almighty G-d  with all your heart,mind,soul,and strength?

It is written "My people do not have, because they do not ask." 

I believe if we go to G-d and sincerely ask for help getting this oppression off our back. He will help restore and create a right spirit with in us.

Su