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A very intriguing verse in this chapter of Proverbs includes a reference back to the days of King Saul.
“Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”
Proverbs 21:3 HCSB
From a New Covenant perspective, we might read this and assume the writer is speaking of sacrificing our lives to Jesus. That application, however, does not fit the overall context of Scripture. This is an Old Testament reference to the animal sacrifices required time and time again for the sins of Israel.
In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul is told to go and destroy the Amalekites. He is told to slaughter even the animals in the city. However, he brings back a slew of “the best” sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord. He disobeyed what the Lord had told him to do, and then justified it with a “spiritual angle.” The prophet Samuel was furious and rebuked him in verse 22…
“Then Samuel said: Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22 HCSB
This is a serious matter with the Lord, because we see it many times in Scripture…
“You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering.”
Psalms 51:16 HCSB
“For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Hosea 6:6 HCSB
What does this mean for us today under the New Covenant? In Matthew, we see Jesus (just as serious as God is about the same issue) give a scathing rebuke the Pharisees…
“”Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.”
Matthew 23:23 HCSB
Essentially, what God is getting at through all of these passages is that He is not concerned with “going through the motions,” but rather, your true heart posture. Anyone can check items off a list. It takes humility and obedience to truly allow the Holy Spirit to change a heart.
Don’t be fooled by people who take bits and pieces of Scripture and justify their “half-truth” behavior with a spiritual angle. This is essentially the modern-day version of what King Saul was doing. He obeyed *part* of what God had told him, and then justified disobedience by trying to sound spiritual. As you can see from both God’s response to Saul and Jesus’ response to the Pharisees, it did not turn out well.