Aunty Jane
Well-Known Member
OK, I remember now......but what is the background to this prophesy?
As Isaiah contemplates the disgraceful conduct of his people, he is well aware that few have the disposition that Jehovah seeks in his worshipers. For this reason, apostate Jerusalem deserves her impending judgment.
How does Jehovah view the worship that is taking place in Jerusalem?.....
“The one slaughtering the bull is as one striking down a man. The one sacrificing the sheep is as one breaking the neck of a dog. The one offering up a gift—the blood of a pig! The one presenting a memorial of frankincense is as one saying a blessing with uncanny words. They are also the ones that have chosen their own ways, and in their disgusting things their very soul has taken a delight.” (Isa 66:3)
God told his wayward people that their formal acts of worship not only failed to please him but actually caused his anger to intensify because of their hypocrisy. (Isa 1:11-17)
Jehovah now likens their offerings to heinous crimes. Their sacrificing a costly bull would no more appease Jehovah than would their murdering a human! Other sacrifices are likened to the offering up of a dog or a pig, animals that are unclean under the Mosaic Law and certainly unfit for sacrifice. (Lev 11:7)
Would Jehovah allow such religious hypocrisy to go unpunished?
For many years Isaiah had been Jehovah’s instrument in speaking and admonishing His people. The prophet knew all too well that, by and large, no one had been listening to his warnings. Because they kept on doing bad, retribution was inevitable. Jehovah would indeed choose their punishment and bring frightful events upon his apostate people. (Isa 66:4)
Israelites eating pig meat was against God’s law, but after Christ’s sacrifice, the law was abolished and a new covenant instituted....it was nothing Ike the old one. (Jeremiah 31:31-32)
As @1stCenturyLady has mentioned, Peter’s vision of the unclean animals he was told to “slaughter and eat”......he found the very idea repugnant.......but it was actually pictorial of Gentiles being brought into the Christian congregation. Gentiles, not under law, were viewed as spiritually “unclean”.....But now, on becoming followers of Christ, they were clean in God’s sight...
