- We are given a list of sacrifices that are acceptable to God.
- In Psalm 50, God speaks. He says He doesn’t drink the blood of animals. That He’s not hungry that His people need to feed Him. He says that every animal, and in fact all the world and all its fullness belong to Him. We can’t actually offer Him anything. It’s all His already.
- God does tell us this, though. “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God” (Psalm 50:23)!
- The sacrifice God wanted from them was thanksgiving. That’s something we can offer all the time, and it’s something that anyone can offer. It costs nothing and requires nothing but a heart that’s turned toward the Lord
- In Psalms 51, we are also taught about acceptable sacrifices. We are told, “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:16-17).
- Again, it is clear that God never desired animal sacrifices. They were necessary for the sake of His children, or else God would have never required it.
- What God did desire is for His children to be broken over their sin. Our sin breaks God’s heart. It should break ours as well.
- A contrite heart is a remorseful heart. It’s a heart that is sorry. It’s sad over its sin.
- God doesn’t turn away from a penitent believer, one coming to Him in repentance, wanting forgiveness and wanting to turn from their sin.
- We don’t need to buy favor or forgiveness with our sacrifices and acts of service. We just need to acknowledge our sin and our merciful God and give thanks for His enduring lovingkindness that receives us when we come to Him humbly.
