Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23
50:1 The mighty one, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
50:3 Our God comes and does not keep silence, before him is a devouring fire, and a mighty tempest all around him.
50:4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
50:5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
50:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah
50:7 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.
50:8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.
50:22 “Mark this, then, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to deliver.
50:23 Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
Reflections
The same God that offers forgiveness and Grace, also imposes His righteous judgement. Since He is a holy and just God, He cannot allow for sin to go unpunished.
When we come to offer our worship to God, it should only be done so with a righteous and pure heart. A heart that is filled with sin and attempts to offer up worship that is not genuine is proven to be false. The true nature of worship is filled with an unwavering love and desire to grow closer to God.
The main issue that this Psalm is targeting is a heart of hypocrisy and it paints a picture of what we should do to show our love and devotion to God. Our actions and our hearts cannot be two separate entities. Our desires should be consumed with knowing the right way of worshiping the Lord, in spirit and in truth. When God rejects those who do not seek to worship Him with a pure heart, He will graciously accept those who seek Him with a righteous heart.
“Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
God is not looking for fake honor. He does not want people to say one thing and do another thing. He does not want your sacrifices, money, or religious duty, unless you are living in a way that is righteous. Jesus reiterates this message from Isaiah in Matthew 15:8,
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Matthew 15:8)
A unity between the heart and the actions is worshiping God in truth. May we always follow the Lord closely and not just serve Him superficially.
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