February 19, 2017: Day 50 – Psalm 50

We heard that every civilization at one time has sacrifice as a part of their system of thought.  The sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is unique in that this sacrifice is actually God incarnate, the one who was given for our sins.  Normally a sacrifice is an animal, that which is life in order to make right something that we have made wrong.  But it is not normally God himself who says: “I will be the sacrifice, it will be enough.”

In this psalm we read the author state that the people of Israel were giving perfectly fine sacrifices.  This is even though in other parts of Scripture we read the type of sacrifices that the Lord requires is different from the rams and goats that are mentioned in this psalm.  Wait, I don’t want to give it away, that’s coming next week.  Let’s at least once again look at Micah 6:8 where we read what the Lord requires.  This verse is set within the context of a sacrifice.  Walk humbly with the Lord is much more important than to give an unblemished ram.  The sacrifice that the Lord requires, even if we do give perfectly good ones, is to pursue His kingdom.  vs.8 states that God is happy with the sacrifices that we make.  But there is more to it than that.

God is happy when we fast.  But there is more to it than that.  God is happy when we give chocolate up for Lent, but there is more to it than that.  God is happy when we decide to abstain from television, but there is more to it than that.  Vs.23 really brings this entire psalm together.  Read it and take it to heart: “Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice, honor me.”  Thanksgiving, the greatest honor that God can receive from us.  Because it is in the act of giving thanks that we recognize who we are and who God is.  There is nothing that puts life in perspective better than thanksgiving.  We can give thanks because of God’s presence and God’s blessings.  God loves thanksgiving because He then knows that we understand Him.

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