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 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. Jesus is the end of all sacrifices and burnt offerings for sin. Jesus alone fulfilled the scroll (the law and prophets) and delighted in the will of God (not my will but yours be done). 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 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.
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.
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To Live is Christ 