Read
(A psalm by Asaph.)
What Pleases God
1From east to west,
the powerful Lord God
has been calling together
everyone on earth.
2God shines brightly from Zion,
the most beautiful city.
3Our God approaches,
but not silently;
a flaming fire comes first,
and a storm surrounds him.
4God comes to judge his people.
He shouts to the heavens
and to the earth,
5“Call my followers together!
They offered me a sacrifice,
and we made an agreement.”
6The heavens announce,
“God is the judge,
and he is always honest.”
7My people, I am God!
Israel, I am your God.
Listen to my charges
against you.
8Although you offer sacrifices
and always bring gifts,
9I won't accept your offerings
of bulls and goats.
10Every animal in the forest
belongs to me,
and so do the cattle
on a thousand hills.
11I know all the birds
in the mountains,
and every wild creature
is in my care.
12If I were hungry,
I wouldn't tell you,
because I own the world
and everything in it.
13I don't eat the meat of bulls
or drink the blood of goats.
14I am God Most High!
The only sacrifice I want
is for you to be thankful
and to keep your word.
15Pray to me in time of trouble.
I will rescue you,
and you will honor me.
16But to the wicked I say:
“You don't have the right
to mention my laws or claim
to keep our agreement!
17You refused correction
and rejected my commands.
18You made friends
with every crook you met,
and you liked people who break
their wedding vows.
19You talked only about violence
and told nothing but lies;
20you sat around gossiping,
ruining the reputation
of your own relatives.”
21When you did all this,
I didn't say a word,
and you thought,
“God is just like us!”
But now I will accuse you.
22You have ignored me!
So pay close attention
or I will tear you apart,
and no one can help you.
23The sacrifice that honors me
is a thankful heart.
Obey me, and I, your God,
will show my power to save.
Reflect
Where many psalms express human praise and petition, Psalm 50 articulates God’s perspective. He arrives in a storm cloud to assess the “State of the Union” with his covenant people. Not all is well.
Many of the Israelites are relying on the rituals of sacrifice, less as an expression of real relationship than as a system of attempted bribes. God reminds them that, as the owner of all creation, he doesn’t need their bulls and goats. What he wants is to recover their wayward hearts.
God twice offers a prescription for the heart problems of his people. He urges offerings of thankfulness (vv 14 and 23), sounding a chord struck repeatedly in Scripture. True obedience always begins with a thankful heart.
The early church father Irenaeus divided people into the “grateful” and the “ungrateful,” rather than into “sinners” and “saints.” The sixteenth-century monk Ignatius of Loyola claimed that gratitude is the defining feature of relationship with God – and that ingratitude is the beginning of all evils and sins.
Irenaeus and Ignatius noticed that when we receive God’s provision and protection as sheer gift – rather than as something we need to grasp or manipulate – our hearts are properly calibrated for covenant living. That’s why the deceptively simple discipline of “counting our blessings” – making a list each day of things for which we are grateful – can revive us.
It’s important to note that in the Levitical system, thank offerings were considered “fellowship offerings” (See Leviticus 3 and 7). Where burnt sacrifices were wholly consumed, thank offerings were shared between the altar, the priest and the worshipper. They were considered meals at which God was the host.
Three millennia later, we’re still invited to feast with God at his table. We don’t have to earn our way or twist his arm. We just need to be thankful.
Respond
Almighty God, Thank you for your unfailing love. Forgive me for the times I take your goodness for granted, or, worse yet, grasp at the things only you can give. Give me a grateful heart; help me to unclench my hands and receive your blessings with joy and thanksgiving. Amen.
Carolyn Arends
Carolyn Arends (MA, Theological Studies, Regent College), has released 12 award-winning albums and 3 critically-acclaimed books. Her prose has been recognized by The Word Guild, The Evangelical Press Association, and the Canadian Church Press. Carolyn is currently the Director of Education for Renovaré, a far-reaching organization that encourages and nurtures spiritual renewal. She continues to be available on a select basis for speaking, retreat facilitation, concerts, worship leading and songwriting and performance seminars. She lives in Surrey, BC with her husband Mark and their two children. Book Releases 2012 Theology in Aisle 7 (CTE Books) 2008 Wrestling With Angels (Harvest House/ConversantLife)* Album Releases 2014 Christmas: The Story of Stories (2B Records), 2009 Love Was Here First (2B Records/Signpost Music).