Verse Thoughts
I am sure that Solomon, who probably authored these wise words, had heard the contrite prayer of his father David, who confessed that the sacrifice that God, so desires is a broken and contrite spirit, for the king had learned that God will not reject a truly penitent and repentant heart – a heart that in turning from sin changes direction to look to the Lord.
King Saul exercised the opposite of this vital truth and learned this important lesson through the loss of his kingdom to David, as well as the loss of his life – for Samuel the prophet chastised him with the words - to obey is better than sacrifice and to do what is right is more acceptable to the Lord than to give Him offerings and oblations.
There is much in Scripture that adheres to this truth – for the inner motive of a truly broken heart that recognizes its own lack and poverty, insufficiency and helplessness before the Lord, is of far greater value to the Father that the outward trappings of the life that appears to be so beautiful to the outward eye - but which can wo often conceal an unclean motive and hypocritical heart.
Indeed, it is not the sacrificial acts of a man or woman who desires to be pleasing to the Lord that delights His heart – but the one that walks in spirit and truth – the one that dies to the self-life and lives to Christ – the one that looks to Jesus – the one that abides in Christ - the one that can say, nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.
To do justice and judgment: The moral duties of religion, what is holy, just, and good, which the law requires; what is agreeably to both tables, piety towards God, and justice to men; that which is just and right between man and man; which, especially if done from right principles and with right views, [is] more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice; not than any sacrifice; than the sacrifice of a broken heart, or the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, or of acts of goodness and beneficence, or of a man's whole self to the Lord; but than ceremonial sacrifices; which, though of divine institution, and typical of Christ, and when offered up in the faith of him, were acceptable to God, while in force; yet not when done without faith and in hypocrisy, and especially when done to cover and countenance immoral actions; and, even when compared with moral duties, the latter were preferable to them; see ( 1 Samuel 15:22 ) ( Mark 12:33 ) .
PLEASE PRAY WITH ME: Loving Father I do want to please You - but I recognise that simply trusting Your word, applying it in my life and looking to Jesus is of far greater worth than anything I myself can offer You. Keep me low at the cross I pray and keep me broken before You - all the days of my life, in Jesus I pray, AMEN.
GOD BLESS YOU.