Read Psalm 40:6-10. 6In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: 8I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” 9I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
David has experienced God’s gracious deliverance (v.1-5), now how will he respond? Not with ritualistic offerings and sacrifices at the Tabernacle but with the offering of his own life – I delight to do your will, O my God. Behaviorism is not God’s delight but a changed heart. King Saul offered sacrifices from pride, not faith. King David will not repeat his mistake.
Hebrews 10 puts these words of David’s directly into the mouth of Jesus.
Hebrews 10:5-7. 5Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
Jesus is the end of all sacrifices and burnt offerings for sin. He alone fully delighted to do the will of God, even unto death. Jesus had God’s law of love written on his heart. He doesn’t conceal God’s covenant love and faithfulness from us, but rather declares it in the congregation of those who have been placed into him.
What about you? What does your life in Christ look and sound like? How do you live before God? Is your Christian life one of duty or delight? Is church attendance an attempt to appease God with your sacrifices and offerings? Or is it simply a chance to declare the glad good news of his deliverance, his salvation, his love and faithfulness?
To live is Christ removes the sacrifice for sin and replaces it with the sacrifice of praise. It replaces duty with delight.
You: Are you living more from duty or delight?
You in Christ: Jesus is the end of all offerings and sacrifices for sin. How does trusting this change your perspective on the Christian life?
Christ in you: Are there any ways that you are still trying to appease God with your “offerings?”
Prayer. Jesus, you alone fulfilled God’s law, you alone delight in God’s will. Fill me from the inside out with that same delight in God. Amen.
To Live is Christ 