Saturday, July 25, 2015

What are the Satisfying Sacrifices? Micah 6:7


When the LORD called together the mountains, the hills and the foundations of the earth to witness His questions to Israel, Micah the prophet recorded God's requests, “what have I done unto you? and wherein have I wearied you?” The LORD gave them examples of His care for them such as delivering them from Egypt through Moses, Aaron and Miriam, and directing them to the righteousness of the LORD through His workings with Balak and Balaam. When the people began to respond to the LORD's questions, they wondered how they were to approach Him, and in chapter six and verse seven of his prophesy Micah recorded more of the questions from the people who desired to approach God where we read:

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

The verse begins, “Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?” In an exaggerated manner the people wondered, “Will the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah” “be pleased with” or “be favorable to, accept favorably or be satisfied with” “thousands of rams” which means “thousands of ram sacrifices” “or with ten thousands” which refers to an even larger amount “of rivers” or “torrents, valleys, or wadis”. Let us use our imaginations to attempt to picture such a multitude of “rams” or collection of “rivers”. The idea is a hyperbolic attempt to realize the number of sacrifices which could be brought to the LORD to satisfy an entrance before Him.

The verse continues, “shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” To further illustrate their elaborate attempt to win the favor of the LORD, the people ask, “shall I give” which means “bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, or extend” “my firstborn” or “firstborn child” “for my transgression” which means “rebellion and willful sin against God”. They continue, “the fruit” or “offspring, children, or progeny” “of my body” which refers to “the belly, womb or abdomen” “for the sin” or “guilt and punishment” “of my soul” which refers to the “mind, desire, passion and being”. We can almost picture the people wondering to what extent they must sacrifice to ever receive acceptance and be able to approach the LORD God Almighty especially after they have rebelled and forsaken Him. No doubt the measure of sacrifice was daunting to them.

While we ponder these words as recorded by Micah the prophet, perhaps we wonder what sacrifices we could give to ever be able to win the LORD's favor. The book of Hebrews gives us the answer in chapter four and verses fourteen through sixteen where we read:

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Whatever sacrifice, no matter how dearly loved or the cost, will ever satisfy and gain the favor of the LORD other than His Son Jesus, and He went before us to the Heavenly Father to fulfill all the requirements for sacrifices that would ever be needed. Our belief and trust in Him gains our access to the Heavenly Father, and where the LORD desired a relationship with us, Jesus made the way. While the people of Israel struggled to find a sacrifice large or intimate enough to satisfy Him, the LORD Jesus provided in advance for all who will trust in, rely upon and cling to Him. May we realize how great a sacrifice He made.

Next time the Lord tells the people “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.




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