{"id":326,"date":"2013-02-02T22:37:56","date_gmt":"2013-02-02T22:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/?p=326"},"modified":"2013-02-04T11:00:07","modified_gmt":"2013-02-04T11:00:07","slug":"forgiveness-without-sacrifice-part-06","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/forgiveness-without-sacrifice-part-06\/","title":{"rendered":"Forgiveness Without Sacrifice \u2013 Part 06"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forgiveness Without Sacrifice \u2013 Part 06<\/h2>\n
\"Lamb<\/a>
Lamb of God<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Daniel Salomon made the following comments: \u201cPsalm 50 is another example of atonement without sacrifice. In fact, Psalm 50 challenges the excesses of \u201canimal sacrifice\u201d\u2014asking \u2018If I were hungry, would I not let you know?\u2019 Making the case that God is not a hungry pagan god who needs to be fed with displays of sacrifice. Also, God forcefully affirms the intrinsic value of animal life through making a powerful case that all animals belong to God and God knows each and every one as an individual. In Psalm 50\u2014 the \u201conly true sacrifice\u201d is being thankful.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is something very interesting in these verses. Note Psalm 50:5-9\u2026<\/p>\n

5. “Gather My godly ones to Me,
\nThose who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”<\/p>\n

This appears to include all Israel, for God then makes a distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous.<\/p>\n

6. And the heavens declare His righteousness,
\nFor God Himself is judge.
\nSelah.<\/p>\n

7. “Hear, O My people, and I will speak;
\nO Israel, I will testify against you;
\nI am God, your God.<\/p>\n

8. “I do not reprove you for your sacrifices,
\nAnd your burnt offerings are continually before Me.<\/p>\n

Here God seems to be speaking only to the righteous ones, for He is telling them He will not hold against them the fact that they are also following the cultish ritual sacrificial system; but it is definitely not what He desires.<\/p>\n

9. “I shall take no young bull out of your house,
\nNor male goats out of your folds.
\nNASB<\/p>\n

And God continues to say what He doesn\u2019t want, but in verses 14-15 He tells us what He really wants.<\/p>\n

14. \u00a0“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
\nAnd pay your vows to the Most High;<\/p>\n

15. And call upon Me in the day of trouble;
\nI shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
\nNASB<\/p>\n

If we are truly a loving compassionate peacemaking child of God, and are working to end the suffering of creation, then all He wants is for us to be thankful for all that He has given us, and He will help us in the day of trouble. This is also another way of saying that God wants obedience rather than sacrifice.<\/p>\n

Go on to Forgiveness without Sacrifice – Part 07<\/a><\/p>\n

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