The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.”  (Psalms 51:17)

God’s people are to offer sacrifices to Him. Peter says that they can “offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”. (1 Peter 2:5) Their gifts to God include ministering to others, worshiping God, and holy living.

Certainly, the sinner can make no atonement for sin. He has no hope without the mercy of God. Under Moses’ law, the bulls and goats that were offered as an atonement for sin did not fully satisfy the justice of God nor the conscience of man.  Thus, God’s wrath was only fully appeased with the sacrifice of Christ. (see Hebrews 9:12-14) Through the death of Christ, the penitent sinner is purified so that he can offer acceptable gifts to God. (Titus 2:11-14)

The Bible teaches that our gifts to God must be offered with a broken and contrite heart. One glorifies God by recognizing God‘s infinite holiness. While sin may be against one's neighbor, ultimately one’s sin is against God.

The broken and contrite heart implies that one has surrendered themselves fully to God. Only God can fully pardon and renew the spirit. God delights in our humility, because then and only then can he mold us into what he wants us to be.

However, a second, but related attitude must be coupled with a broken heart before the sacrifice is accepted by God. In 1 Samuel 15, Saul the king of Israel was commanded by God to “go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”(1 Samuel 15:3) Instead, of heeding the voice of God, Saul spared the sheep and oxen and lambs to offer as a sacrifice to God. (see 1 Samuel 15:9,15) God was displeased with Saul.

When Samuel the prophet confronted Saul about the matter, he related an important principle. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams”.(1 Samuel 15:22) To please God the sacrifice must be coupled with the heart of submission and obedience. God is not pleased with gifts that he has not authorized.

Sacrifices that God has not approved are viewed as rebellion. In such actions, one makes himself a worshiper of self rather than God.  Such sacrifices focus on pleasing the carnal person rather than on the Lord. Such sacrifices dishonor the Lord who is holy and good.

When one comes to the altar with gifts to God, first they must approach God with gratitude, for such offerings are only accepted because of God‘s mercy. And second, one must fully yield to God by giving him only what he approves.

By George Slover

He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.”"  (Prov. 17:19)

The Scriptures say a lot about loving your brother, about making sure that he comes first in your preferences, that he is accorded the kind of respect and honor he deserves, even when you disagree with him.  It is true that we may need to correct the wrong done by my brother, but such is not a license for me to fuel my ego or bolster my reputation.  Before criticizing carefully examine your motives.  It’'s people who are important, not your own satisfaction.

Allow me to suggest three points to consider before you open your mouth.  First, before you say something about someone, be sure its true.  It is dangerous to repeat unverified information.  Second, before you say something about someone, examine the reason for saying it.  Abraham Lincoln once said, "“Don’t criticize before you know you can help”."  Third, before you say something about someone, remember how Jesus said, “Do unto to others as you would that they should do unto you.”  If you don’t want your name slandered, don’t be guilty of slandering others.

The tongue is hard to control.  It requires tremendous concentration.  However, if we fail to tame the tongue it can kindle all kinds of fires.

George Slover

You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7)

The 32nd Psalm is ascribed to be a Psalm of David. It is rightly grouped together with Psalm 51. However, because of its didactic form, it is called a Psalm of contemplation or instruction.

The Psalm begins with a proposition - the blessedness of the one who is forgiven of sin. To clearly establish his point, the Psalmist speaks of the distress and misery caused by hidden, unconfessed sin. (Vs. 3,4)

The road to relief is clearly stated. When the sin is acknowledged and confessed there is forgiveness. This requires one to state specifically what God already knows – that his law has been broken. No excuses – one must frankly call the violation by its ugly name.

For full pardon, such an acknowledgment must be coupled with a determination to cease from the transgression. Having experienced God‘s grace, David would counsel the impenitent to consider the joyful blessings of such a confession.

Having acknowledged his own sin, the Psalmist states the fruit of such confession. Marvelous thoughts of God flood his mind. The remorse that once consumed him is replaced by songs of deliverance! “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb“.

Additionally, the penitent Psalmist has renewed thoughts of God. God is his hiding place. There is blessedness here! There is new freedom, a new joy in God, new ties of love. The burden is lifted!

With renewed confidence, David is ready to declare these marvelous truths to others. He bids us to not be like the obstinate horse that must be bridled, but to lay bare our own transgressions against God, and then rejoice in God‘s mercy. (Vs.10,11)

Dear reader, is there a song of joy in your heart, or is there the remorse of a life broken by sin? “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1)
 
By George Slover

For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.”  2 Samuel 14:14)

Behind the scene depicted here, was the tragic turmoil in David’s house. First, his son Amnon, motivated by a perverted desire, had violated his brother’s sister Tamar. Next Absalom, David’s son, took revenge on Amnon and had him killed. Absalom then fled from his father, but David mourned for his son every day.

A wise woman of Tekoa, knowing the situation, is willing to play on David’s sympathy hoping to gain clemency for her own son who is in a similar plight. While she may have ulterior motives, there is some truth to her anxious plea.

The widow’s reference to God‘s “banished ones“ would surely strike a chord with David. Though estranged from his son, a father never loses affection for him. Even David himself had been separated from the heavenly father because of his own folly. All of mankind is alienated from the Lord because of sin.

Although we have forsaken God, he has not forsaken us. “He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.” The wise woman speaks of the ways of God – he does not take away life but arranges a way by which those who deserve to die may brought back to him.

God’s forbearance toward sinful man is expressed often in Scripture: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) God does not seek the death of sinners but has provided a way of reconciliation and full restoration. Perhaps you are the prodigal who has wandered away from God. God is calling you back.

God‘s ways of dealing with us should also serve as a model for how his children should treat others. Our character should reflect his amazing mercy and unlimited forgiveness. (see Ephesians 4:31,32)

The power of this wise woman’s appeal rests in God‘s very nature. He is not bent on punishing us, nor carrying out sentences, but is ready to forgive and bring us home if we are willing to repent.

By George Slover 

 

Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” (Numbers 11:4-6)

Scenes of this chapter provide a glimpse of the pathetic character of Israel. Their constant grumbling is a source of extreme irritation for Moses, their leader. (Vs.11) “Manna, manna, all we have is a manna!” Could this same kind of dissatisfaction be found in our hearts?

It is first worth noting just where the sin began. A “mixed multitude“ or foreigners were living among the people of God. A cry among these aliens seems to incite a rebellion among the Israelites. Thus, the danger of listening to the counsel of friends of the world, especially when one’s faith and commitment are challenged. 

The Israelites had forgotten all that God had done for them. They do remember the manna, only to grumble about it. They are mindful of the delicacies of Egypt, but have they forgotten how they were treated in bondage? Their exaggerated language: “our whole being is dried up“; “we have nothing“, reveals much about their ungrateful heart. Jesus has conquered sin and death, yet how easy it is for us to complain about matters far less important.

And so the people demanded flesh, and God gave them flesh beyond their request. They get their desire, but not God‘s blessing. One must be careful to become impatient with our real or imagined hardships. What we receive may not offer the pleasure that we are looking for.

To avoid the dangers of such thanklessness, we must take our eyes off the pleasures offered by the world. We must flee these harmful lusts, and turn our hearts to pursue heavenly objects. We must make the Father’s business the main thing, and pray: “Father, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. 

By George Slover