Isaiah 28:12-15

[God] said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest";
and, "This is the place of repose" -
but they would not listen.
So then the word of the Lord to them will become:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there -
so that they will go and fall backward,
be injured and snared and captured.
Therefore hear the word of the Lord you scoffers
who rule this people in Jerusalem.
You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the grave we have made an agreement...
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place.

God hates religion. Religion says "Do and do, do and do, rule on rule," so that we are careful not to fall out of favor with God. It says that in order for God to love me and not exercise his wrath on me, I have to do something for Him; ultimately the measure between me and God comes down to my actions, not God and His heart of Grace, Love, Compassion, and Forgiveness. This is the source of self-righteousness and God hates it.

This text says that this results in oppression of the less 'holy' so that, "they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured." By running to religion instead of God we are entering into a "covenant with death." We use rules, regulations, and religion as a refuge from evil and a hiding place from God's holiness, but He says that it is a lie and a falsehood.

When we understand that there is nothing we can do to deserve God's grace and love, we understand there is nothing we can do to make that grace and love go away. It is not about me; It is all about Jesus.