Slices
Prepare
Today, join the psalmist and prepare to ‘Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness…’ (Psalm 96:9).
Bible passage
A psalm of Asaph.
1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes
and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
and around him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 ‘Gather to me this consecrated people,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’
6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
for he is a God of justice.
7 ‘Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.
8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 ‘Sacrifice thank-offerings to God,
fulfil your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honour me.’
16 But to the wicked person, God says:
‘What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and testify against your brother
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,
you thought I was exactly like you.
But I now arraign you
and set my accusations before you.
22 ‘Consider this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
23 those who sacrifice thank-offerings honour me,
and to the blameless I will show my salvation.’
Explore
Today we join with others in worship. It will take different forms. At its best it will be focused on God’s character, his saving activity and his purposes in the world. But sometimes it will reflect more of our preferences and desires and be aimed to please us rather than God. This psalm addresses just such issues.
In verses 1–5, God summons his people to the place of judgement. The picture is of a glorious and powerful God, somewhat reminiscent of his appearance at Sinai. Then in verses 6–15, God tells them that, while there is nothing necessarily wrong with their sacrifices, it is their motivation that matters. He does not need their sacrifices, for anything they can offer is already his, but delights in their worship – and ours – if it expresses gratitude (v 14) and dependence (v 15). Worship which, like that of the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable (Luke 18:9–14), is more about how well we are doing than about God is not acceptable. Verses 16–23 are darker and touch on the hypocrisy of worship offered to God from those whose lives do not honour him – a reminder that worship is not just about what we do in church on Sunday, but about how we live during the rest of the week.
Respond
Teach me, my God and King,/ In all things Thee to see,/ And what I do in anything/ To do it as for Thee.*
*George Herbert, ‘The Elixir’, 1593–1633
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 5,6; Colossians 1
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for SU Lithuania’s leadership as they look to grow and develop the movement in their country. Ask God to give them wisdom, strength, and unity as they move forward.
