1 Kings
Where is God's power in your life? 1 Kings 18 shows that even when society seems to be going downhill and people give themselves to false gods, God will still come through and show himself in powerful ways to those who follow him.
Elijah taunted the prophets of Baal and had them try and get their god to set fire to their sacrifice to him. No matter what they did, Baal did not respond. He couldn't; he wasn't real. These prophets were the ruling priests of the day, endorsed by the king, but they still couldn't make anything happen. Elijah was one of the king's major enemies, he was on the run and living in the wilderness. When he doused his sacrifice in litres of water, an onlooker may have assumed he was committing "spiritual suicide" as it were, ensuring that his sacrifice would not be burnt up. However, God sent his fire down and burned down the sacrifice, the altar of stones, the soil around it, and all the water! That's power!
We have access to that power on a daily basis because Christ opened up the way for us to talk with God whenever we want. Let's not waste this access, but like Elijah, live in constant communion with God, and when we need him to, God will come through for us.
Showing posts with label sacrifices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sacrifices. Show all posts
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Obedience is better than sacrifice
1 Samuel
Today I learned that even if we think we're doing God a favour, we aren't if we have not followed his commands. That's where this verse comes in - 1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is better than sacrifice. Saul had just waged war against the Amalekites, as the Lord had asked. However, God had also told Saul to kill all the Amalekites, both the people and their animals. Saul killed the weak ones, but left the king alive, as well as the choicest sheep and other animals. He was going to sacrifice these animals to God, thinking he would be pleasing God. However, this is what Samuel the prophet tells Saul: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."
God is not interested in our offerings if we can't actually follow his word. In the end, it will go better for us, even if we can't seem to understand that right away. Here's what happened to Saul - Samuel killed the Amalekite king, and God took the kingship away from Saul and gave it to David.
It seems to me that living within the will of God is far better than trying to get on his good side in our own way.
Today I learned that even if we think we're doing God a favour, we aren't if we have not followed his commands. That's where this verse comes in - 1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is better than sacrifice. Saul had just waged war against the Amalekites, as the Lord had asked. However, God had also told Saul to kill all the Amalekites, both the people and their animals. Saul killed the weak ones, but left the king alive, as well as the choicest sheep and other animals. He was going to sacrifice these animals to God, thinking he would be pleasing God. However, this is what Samuel the prophet tells Saul: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."
God is not interested in our offerings if we can't actually follow his word. In the end, it will go better for us, even if we can't seem to understand that right away. Here's what happened to Saul - Samuel killed the Amalekite king, and God took the kingship away from Saul and gave it to David.
It seems to me that living within the will of God is far better than trying to get on his good side in our own way.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sacrifices
Leviticus
As I was reading about the sacrifices that the Israelites had to make to appear holy before God, I honestly started wondering, why all these sacrifices? Why the slaughtering and the blood? What's the point?
This is just a picture of what God truly wants. He wants us to understand that approaching him is a serious business. Animal sacrifices are no longer necessary. God desires mercy instead. But mercy is a sort of sacrifice. We're giving up what we would want to do to others, and offering them something else in return. We're giving up what we would want to do in life, and taking up God's will instead. Like it says in Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Instead of breaking animals on the altar, we're breaking ourselves, and that is usually a whole lot harder to do.
As I was reading about the sacrifices that the Israelites had to make to appear holy before God, I honestly started wondering, why all these sacrifices? Why the slaughtering and the blood? What's the point?
This is just a picture of what God truly wants. He wants us to understand that approaching him is a serious business. Animal sacrifices are no longer necessary. God desires mercy instead. But mercy is a sort of sacrifice. We're giving up what we would want to do to others, and offering them something else in return. We're giving up what we would want to do in life, and taking up God's will instead. Like it says in Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Instead of breaking animals on the altar, we're breaking ourselves, and that is usually a whole lot harder to do.
Monday, November 29, 2010
The wonder of it all
Job
I found some really neat stuff in a number of passages today. For instance, the end of Job 26. I love reading passages that describe the work of God in nature.
I found some really neat stuff in a number of passages today. For instance, the end of Job 26. I love reading passages that describe the work of God in nature.
"He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. . . . By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent. And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”
How faint the whisper we hear of God. We can look around and see evidence of his handiwork, and we are in awe and wonder. How much more so when we see him face to face!
Hosea/Revelation
Hosea 6:6 - "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea is painting a picture of unrepentant Israel throughout his book. This verse seems to hit at the heart of his message. Israel is sinful, yet still trying to put on a pious face by going through the motions. That's similar to the church of Ephesus that we read about in Revelation. The Ephesians had done all the right stuff, but had forgotten their first love, their passion for God.
Let's not miss the point or take the letter of the law over the spirit of it. God made us for relationship, not for rules. Let's be relational!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Humble and contrite
Key verses
Hebrews 13:20-21 - May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Isaiah
God saves his people. This is evident in Isaiah's narrative. Although they were sinful and had to be punished, God did rescue them and bring them out of the pit into the light of his blessing.
Even when sacrifices were required by Jewish law, they weren't an excuse for sin. Isaiah 66:2 explains that what God desires most is someone who follows him, who is "humble and contrite in spirit". Sacrifices were still necessary to cover for the sin that was still committed, but sacrifices on their own, without a real commitment to a right way of living, were not enough.
Hebrews 13:20-21 - May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Isaiah
God saves his people. This is evident in Isaiah's narrative. Although they were sinful and had to be punished, God did rescue them and bring them out of the pit into the light of his blessing.
Even when sacrifices were required by Jewish law, they weren't an excuse for sin. Isaiah 66:2 explains that what God desires most is someone who follows him, who is "humble and contrite in spirit". Sacrifices were still necessary to cover for the sin that was still committed, but sacrifices on their own, without a real commitment to a right way of living, were not enough.
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