SACRIFICE AND OFFERINGS YOU DID NOT DESIRE

When we observe all religions that are practiced by human beings, in this world, we find one thing in common. We find the followers of all religions bring offerings and sacrifices as part of their worship of their gods. The Bible also makes a mention of offerings and sacrifices in the law given in the Old Testament. Despite the law, the Bible demonstrates to us that, the God of the Bible is different from the rest of those who claim to be gods.

When we read the Bible, we understand that the LORD God Almighty, who gave the law to His people, Himself says that, His heart is not pleased with the sacrifices and offerings that we bring to Him.
– “​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.” – Psalm 40:6

We find such references in so many other passages in the Bible, when the LORD God Almighty says in simple and straightforward manner that, He is not interested in our offerings and sacrifices; that His heart doesn’t delight in such things at all. Israel, the “Chosen People” is called by YAHWEH as Sodom and Gomorrah, because of a certain issue. Let us read…
– “10 Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: 11 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. 12 “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? 13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.” – Isaiah 1:10-14

The LORD declares very emphatically that He utterly detests the offerings and sacrifices that we bring to Him. Then we should be asking, What does the LORD like or require of us? Well, the LORD has already spoke about what He likes from us.
– “22 So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…” – 1 Samuel 15:22-23a

The LORD makes it amply clear that He is keenly interested in our obedience to Him and His commands, than in our offerings and sacrifices to Him. When we obey the LORD fully and faithfully, this would be the biggest and the best sacrifice and offering one could ever bring to the LORD.
– “22 For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. 23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’” – Jeremiah 7:21-23
– “16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” – Psalm 51:16-17

Dear Brothers and Sisters, the LORD our God is asking for our hearts, all its affections, and our sincere desire to follow Him – the way the LORD thinks, speaks and conducts all His affairs – in our thoughts, words and deeds. This is what pleases the LORD our God, the most. He is not impressed by our offerings and sacrifices. He is not interested in them at all. He is interested in our hearts, and our obedience in doing certain things, which are the closest to his heart.
– “21 “I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. 22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. 24 But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.” – Amos 5:21-24
– *”6 With what shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:6-8

Many who claim to follow the LORD, and believe in all the “doctrines” of the church; many groups of people, and many nations who proclaim they are Christian, have not walked on the paths of righteousness and justice, as desired by the LORD. To list a few – colonisation, slavery, racial superiority, racial discrimination and bullying those who are small and weak to get whatever they want for themselves, are not the things that the LORD would expect from people who claim to be Christ Jesus’ followers; certainly never be proud about such evil acts…done even till date. What is appalling is that, Bible was abused to justify such crimes, and was abused and weaponised to support such injustices. Strange as it may be, many times the oppressed people themselves are in awe of the oppressor, because they are the recipients of some benevolence, in certain cases, from the oppressors. Wonder if the LORD Jesus, the God of the Bible, and the God of all creation, would think the same.
– “16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.” – Isaiah 1:16-17

Let us always remember that, SACRIFICE AND OFFERINGS YOU DID NOT DESIRE but our LORD is keenly interested in we obeying Him – “…to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God…” Mica 6:8b. Let us obey the LORD. Even so, the LORD help us.