"Then You will delight
in the sacrifices of the
righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on Your
altar."
Ps 51:19, NIV
As I reflected upon this final verse yesterday, I was
led to see that Christ-followers are called to be jubilant, to rejoice in
offering sacrifices to the Lord because God delights in them.
Today, on this forty-seventh morning of my 50 days of waiting for Pentecost Sunday (June 8 -- only 3 days away!), I am prompted to focus on the middle part of the verse--"burnt offerings offered whole"--which directs my heart to see the kinds of sacrifices that the Father finds acceptable.
Today, on this forty-seventh morning of my 50 days of waiting for Pentecost Sunday (June 8 -- only 3 days away!), I am prompted to focus on the middle part of the verse--"burnt offerings offered whole"--which directs my heart to see the kinds of sacrifices that the Father finds acceptable.
Spirit of the Living God,
please reveal Your truth to me!
Being naturally inquisitive, allow me to grasp a basic
definition of the words presented in this segment:
"Burnt" is the past tense or past participle of the verb "to burn" which refers to the idea of undergoing combustion--i.e., to be set ablaze.
"Offerings" and "offered" are both related to the verb "to offer" which alludes to the concept of presenting something, anything, for acceptance or rejection.
"Whole" describes the idea of completion, fullness, or entirety.
So, taken together, "burnt offerings offered whole" brings to mind blazing sacrifices that are presented to God in an unabridged or unbroken or undamaged state for acceptance or rejection.
"Burnt" is the past tense or past participle of the verb "to burn" which refers to the idea of undergoing combustion--i.e., to be set ablaze.
"Offerings" and "offered" are both related to the verb "to offer" which alludes to the concept of presenting something, anything, for acceptance or rejection.
"Whole" describes the idea of completion, fullness, or entirety.
So, taken together, "burnt offerings offered whole" brings to mind blazing sacrifices that are presented to God in an unabridged or unbroken or undamaged state for acceptance or rejection.
Applied to David's portrayal in this penitential psalm, a burnt offering or a blazing sacrifice leads me to
think of the intensity of the flame that consumes my offering to God.
Is my offering blasé and uninspiring?
Am I a cold, lukewarm, or red-hot Christian?
Is there any sense of spark in my spiritual walk?
Am I vibrant in my interactions and transactions with others?
Am I genuinely passionate in my confession and intercession to God?
Is my offering blasé and uninspiring?
Am I a cold, lukewarm, or red-hot Christian?
Is there any sense of spark in my spiritual walk?
Am I vibrant in my interactions and transactions with others?
Am I genuinely passionate in my confession and intercession to God?
May everything I
offer to God
reveal that my all-consuming passion is
Christ, Christ, and only
Christ!
The word "offered" leads me to realize and
accept that not only has every possession of mine been granted to me, but also
everything I am or have or hope to become needs to be given away for the
advancement of God's Kingdom. Once David understood that, he responded rightly
in his confession to God, to Nathan the prophet, and to the people of Israel.
Following in his footsteps, the Holy Spirit is leading me to see that as I offer my heart to Him, I am invited to live with an open hand, not holding tightly to any residual authority or claim. I am invited to give everything to God without looking back, without regretting, without murmuring.
Following in his footsteps, the Holy Spirit is leading me to see that as I offer my heart to Him, I am invited to live with an open hand, not holding tightly to any residual authority or claim. I am invited to give everything to God without looking back, without regretting, without murmuring.
Whole!
Whole?
Does that mean . . . all of it?
I find this concept to be the most difficult to take in. Ananias and Sapphira thought so too and, when seeking to keep some of the offering for themselves, it cost them their lives (Acts 5:1-11).
How often, like the couple aforementioned, do I snatch some of the treasured item and offer God the leftovers? How often do I keep some of the confession, part of the testimony, part of the money, some of my time, part of my intensity or passion, some of the sacrifice, most of intercession, and so much more, to myself while God is left to stare open-mouthed at my stinginess?
God is using David's penitential prayer to teach my heart.
Whole?
Does that mean . . . all of it?
I find this concept to be the most difficult to take in. Ananias and Sapphira thought so too and, when seeking to keep some of the offering for themselves, it cost them their lives (Acts 5:1-11).
How often, like the couple aforementioned, do I snatch some of the treasured item and offer God the leftovers? How often do I keep some of the confession, part of the testimony, part of the money, some of my time, part of my intensity or passion, some of the sacrifice, most of intercession, and so much more, to myself while God is left to stare open-mouthed at my stinginess?
God is using David's penitential prayer to teach my heart.
May today be the day
that my offering is whole, ablaze,
and completely released to Jesus,
my Savior and my God!
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