But the hour is coming and is present, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be ʜɪꜱ worshipers.
In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.
The Lord said, “Because this people draws near with their mouth and honors me with their lips, but they have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which has been taught;
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways. As a nation that did righteousness, and didn’t forsake the ordinance of their God, they ask of me righteous judgments. They delight to draw near to God.
“Therefore y’all are to fear YHWH and worship ʜɪᴍ in sincerity and in truth. Y’all must turn from the gods your* ancestors worshiped beyond the River in Egypt and worship YHWH.
But y’all are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy ethnic group, a people of God’s own possession, that y’all may proclaim the virtues of ʜɪᴍ who called y’all out of darkness into ʜɪꜱ marvelous light.
Look! A time is coming and has already come, when y’all will be scattered, each to their own place, and y’all will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
and you will swear, ‘As YHWH lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness. The nations will bless themselves in him, and they will glory in him.”
I know also, my God, that you try the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you.
“I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountainside, let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.
It will come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacob will no more again lean on him who struck them, but will rely on YHWH, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.