Psalm 50

It has been my thoughts of late that God is in charge of everything that happens and if we desire to do His will, there is one sacrifice that God desires above all else – praise.

If we desire to be called “faithful” God calls us into a covenant with Himself, a covenant that includes the giving of sacrifices. But what are those sacrifices? He gives us some insight into the sacrifices He desires in this psalm when he says in verse 8 “I have not complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens.” So it sounds to me like I need to check my heart on what I consider a “sacrifice”. Does God really need my sacrifice as I understand it? In the same way, does our family or spouse need the sacrifice that we think we are offering them, or are we caught up in ourselves in thinking the things we do are sacrifices for them?

I believe God called me to examine myself as I read this psalm recently and receive the discipline from His word as He called me out. I needed to determine what my sacrifices were, and whether they matched up with what God was desiring out of me. More than anything I want to be known as a faithful steward. In the end, will God say to me, “well done good and faithful servant”? Luckily God gave me the answers throughout His word, not only in Psalm 20 but also in many other various verses which if I am able to retrace my steps will write about later. He said to me in verse 14 “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High”. And I realized that I may be in trouble and not even know it, as my pride had blinded me, and my mind was not in tune and in the Spirit, but in the flesh. He said He would rescue me, and that I would give Him glory (v 15.) And that lead me to verse 23 which helped me to understand the sacrifice that God wanted most from me “giving thanks” or “praise that truly honors Him”. He said He will save.