Advent Devotionals: Day 21

December 17th, 2022
by Campus Bible Church

To Obey is Better than Sacrifice

Psalm 50

"The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages. He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:

"Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice." And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. "Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God. I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

But to the wicked person, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother's son. When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.

"Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation."

This is a psalm of instruction and tells of the coming judgment on the great day of the Lord's return. We see that God is not impressed with our sacrifices if our hearts are not turned toward God. It is better to obey than to sacrifice; the Lord is interested in the heart and not our outward appearance of righteousness. God will reward the sincere of heart and will punish the hypocrite.

The Lord wants our hearts. We are to continually turn to God: both in times of joy and in times of sorrow or distress. Let us never cease to worship God in spirit and in truth, offering praises to His name which glorifies Him.

Prayer: Father, may my heart be truly focused on You. May I never rise up and praise for the sake of those around me, but only for You. Help me to follow Your commands and walk in a manner worthy of Your name. Amen.

Posted in Advent Devotionals
Posted in Advent Devotionals