(Proverbs 15:8 KJV) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
“Sacrifice” (2077) is a wider concept than you might consider. In our modern English ears it has the possible meaning of going without so that someone else may have their needs met. Parents will sacrifice a new car in order to get their children braces for their teeth. In a less serious mode we might think of going without dessert as being a sacrifice.
In the Hebrew a sacrifice can cover a wide range of financial worth. It could be a dove or it could be an ox. From the outside one is worth much more than the other. From God’s eyes they were the same because the offering was based on your ability to pay. Thus offering up a dove for a poor person could be a bigger financial hit than an ox for a rich man.
The point here is that it doesn’t matter how much you spend on trying to placate God. If your motive and heart are wrong, God rejects your sacrifice. If you are upright then the gift will be right.
So? It matters what we do but it is a two sided coin. A coin with just a face is counterfeit. Our reason and inner motivation is also vitally important. This is why we listen to the scripture as it calls us to repentance and renewal. How are the ears working? How is the heart working?
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