The Inspiring Word
By Terry Cheek Th.D.
McDowell County
This month we conclude our verse-by-verse exposition of the fiftieth Psalm. Join me as we explore verses eight through twenty-three this month.
Gods perfect righteousness demands that sin be judged. This judgment leads to death. Notice Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” During the Old Testament days, a person could bring an animal as a substitute for themselves. The persons’ faith in God was symbolized through the death of their animal sacrifice to take the place of their own death. However, people had become so accustomed to the ritual and ceremony of the sacrifice they had forgotten the significance of faith in their personal lives. The act of sacrifice showed they remembered their covenant to follow God wholeheartedly. But their hearts had drawn far from Him. From Psalm 50:8-23 we read; “I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”
God opens by reminding His people that He doesn’t accuse them of neglecting the outward duty of worship, it is the condition of their heart God sees as repulsive. This very thing the Lord Jesus Christ confronted the Pharisees of His day with. Remember Christ addressing the Pharisee’s outward observance of washing hands, pots, pans, and utensils. How about their paying of tithes and the encouragement of children to dedicate portions of their income to the Temple and not care for their parents’ needs.
God reminds His children that He has no personal need of their sacrifice. He created everything, and that same everything belongs to Him. The act of sacrifice was enacted for the benefit of man, not the benefit of God. It was an act of worship and it was required the worshipper sacrifice with a repentant heart seeking forgiveness for their sin and trespass.
God does not have needs like the pagan gods do. They require sacrifice to provide food. The one true God requires no food, He is spirit and not flesh.
He reminds His children to call upon Him. God is there for them if they come to Him properly. That is seeking forgiveness and atonement for their sins. God requires the same from His children today. We risk falling into the same pattern if we participate in religious activities such as tithing or church attendance out of habit or conformity. God desires our worship, our conviction to tithe and attend church from heartfelt love and obedience to Him by Grace and through Faith in Jesus Christ. God still desires righteousness, that righteousness comes today by believing and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Until we meet again, in person or in print, may God keep you firmly in His grip!
Italics added
Works Cited:
The treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon
John Gill commentary on the Bible
e-Sword Bible software
Life Application Study Bible; KJV
____________________________________
Terry is the founder and broadcaster of The Inspiring Word media ministry. He and Lori are members of Blue Ridge Church of Marion N.C. You can contact Terry by email at theinspiringword@gmail.com. You can read more of his work here….
