1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. 2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
and around him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 "Gather to me my consecrated ones,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
for God himself is judge.
Selah
7 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak,
O Israel, and I will testify against you:
I am God, your God.
8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices
or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the creatures of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
16 But to the wicked, God says:
"What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You speak continually against your brother
and slander your own mother's son.
21 These things you have done and I kept silent;
you thought I was altogether like you.
But I will rebuke you
and accuse you to your face.
22 "Consider this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:
23 He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me,
and he prepares the way
so that I may show him the salvation of God."
***
As a teacher, I have mixed feelings over Teachers' Day.
1. I dont want my students to waste their pocket money on buying presents for me. (though nowadays students are generally rather well-off). Pocket money means it comes from their parents, it's not their own. If their parents want to thank me, they would have approached me directly anyway.
2. Yet I would loved to be appreciated in some form or another. Teachers are easily pleased creatures. They dont need your flowers or chocolates or special gifts. You work hard and get good results, then write me a thank-you note, that's enough for me.
Why am I relating this?
Somehow I suspect it's the same with God.
1. Just as you cant give your teacher something that he himself cannot buy, what physical sacrifices can we give God, that He has not created?
2. Yet God wants us to appreciate Him! (thanksgivings)
As I read this psalm, 2 types of sacrifices showed up clearly:
1. Lip-service sacrifice :
16 But to the wicked, God says:
"What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
and cast my words behind you.
Say one thing then do another.2. Heart-service sacrifice : 14 Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
Say what you mean and mean what you say.Which type of sacrifice are you offering to God?
Labels: Journey Through Psalms
