Worship in Minor Prophets

Amos 5:21–24
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them… But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

Hosea 6:6
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

Amos and Hosea call out Israel’s hypocrisy in their worship. They offer sacrifices and offerings as they are commanded to do. Instead of these being a pleasing aroma to God as they ought to be, they are a stench. When they meet together to celebrate the commanded festivals, they do so to the disdain of God. Why is this happening? Even though they are following the words of the commands they are not following the intent of the commands. The heart behind the Torah was always love, justice, and doing right by others. The poor are oppressed and injustice is everywhere. The goal of the commands was to foster a community of love and generosity but instead they live their life in tension with God’s way. Loving others and knowing who God is more important than any “religious” rituals we may do. It doesn’t matter how “religious” we seem, God always knows our heart and how we treat people.

In our churches and small groups, we focus a lot on what happens on a Sunday morning or whenever we gather. When we only focus on our assemblies, we start to neglect the priority of how we live outside the church. This creates a people such as Amos and Hosea prophesy against. 

Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah sees our worship manifesting in three ways:

1. Act Justly – That means we do not participate in acts which discriminate and marginalize because of wealth or status or any other reason.
2. Love Mercy – Our worship includes loving with mercy and kindness so as to show mercy to all just as God has shown to us.
3. Walk Humbly – Worship to God means we know our place and we know His. God is our Creator and we worship Him knowing that He made us and our lives should be lived in light of that knowledge.

Our worship includes more than just a church service. Our worship to God is how we live our entire life. From our words to our interactions with all humans, it reflects our heart and our worship to God. Instead of instruments, attendance, and sermons, our worship should be focused on how we show mercy, love, and righteousness to others.