Psalm 50-8.15.22
Scripture
Psalms 50:9-14 NLT
“But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.”
Observation-What does it say?
This is a psalm of Asaph. In it he writes how the Lord, the Mighty One has spoken. God speaks and tells His people that although He has no problems with their offerings and sacrifices, He desires more of the people’s heart and desires behind it. Since everything in this world belongs to God anyways, God desires more of the people’s obedience, and their willingness to worship Him with sincerity, thanksgiving, and prayer.
Understanding-What does it mean?
God desires our relationship over rituals.
I heard someone the other day jokingly say that they think God is broke because He is always asking for our money. I’m not going to lie, but that comment really irked me! That statement couldn’t be further from the truth! I also hear people ask, “Why do I need to pray to God, when He already knows what I’m thinking anyway?” The truth is God DOESN’T need our money! And yes, God DOES know what we are thinking and what we are going to say before we even say it. But what God truly desires from each and every one of us is RELATIONSHIP.
That is why we still need to pray to Him. He yearns for us to come to Him. He yearns for a relationship with us. That is why He seeks tithes and offerings from us; not that God needs it, (because all we have is His anyways), but to have our obedience, see where our heart truly is, and to have our complete trust in Him that He will provide our every need.
God desires a relationship with us so much that He came out of the comforts of His home in Heaven. God humbled himself and became flesh, in the form of Jesus. He sacrificed himself to die for our sins. This way, anyone who puts their faith in Jesus can have a relationship with a Holy God, have eternal life, and spend that life with God in Heaven. God seeks for all to come to know Him and have a relationship with Him. He loves us that much! ❤️
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” -John 3:16-17
Life Application
Quality over quantity.
Avoid jumping through the “spiritual hoops” or “checking off the boxes” of being a better Christian.
For example:
Did I pray for at least 10-30 minutes today?
Did I read a chapter in the Bible?
Did I help out at church?
Did I give to someone in need?
Although these are great things, let’s make sure we are doing them behind the right reason. Let’s learn from this passage today. Let’s remember God knows our heart and our reasoning behind the things we do. Let’s remember that our focus should be on our relationship with Jesus. Truly spend the quality time with Him in prayer, Bible readings, journaling, and worship. Be obedient to His ways not just because we are following rules, but do them because we love Him and appreciate all He has done for us. May we do things not out of rituals, but out of love for God who first loved us. ❤️
-Moses Gaddi