3. What was wrong with Judah’s worship?

³ How far Jehovah’s people have deviated from pure worship! Isaiah’s opening words are sobering: “Hear this, O house of Jacob, you who are calling yourselves by the name of Israel and who have come forth from the very waters of Judah, you who are swearing by the name of Jehovah and who make mention even of the God of Israel, not in truth and not in righteousness.

Isaiah 48:1,

How hypocritical! “Swearing by the name of Jehovah” is clearly no more than using God’s name in a formalistic way. (Zephaniah 1:5) Before their exile in Babylon, the Jews worshiped Jehovah at “the holy city,” Jerusalem. But their worship was insincere. Their hearts were far removed from God, and their acts of worship were “not in truth and not in righteousness.” They did not have the faith of the patriarchs.​—Malachi 3:7.

4. What kind of worship is pleasing to Jehovah?

⁴ Jehovah’s words remind us that worship should not be perfunctory. It must be heartfelt. Mere token service​—perhaps performed just to please or impress others—​does not constitute “deeds of godly devotion.” (2 Peter 3:11) A person’s calling himself a Christian does not in itself make his worship acceptable to God. (2 Timothy 3:5) Recognizing that Jehovah exists is vital, but it is only a beginning. Jehovah wants worship that is whole-souled and motivated by deep love and appreciation.​—Colossians 3:23.