Sacrifice God Loves

The Law of Moses outlined what were acceptable offerings to the LORD and how to properly present them.  The tithes and offerings of the people were a means of God providing for the priests and Levites in addition to providing the blessing of atonement and acceptance from God.   Leviticus 3:14-16 reads, "Then he shall offer from it his offering, as an offering made by fire to the LORD. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, ¹⁵ the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; ¹⁶ and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the LORD'S."  Select portions of offerings were eaten by the priest or people who offered the sacrifice, and God claimed the fat of the offering as His portion.

We cook food to eat because we are hungry, and we can give food or money to those who lack.  Yet God lacks nothing and does not need to eat to survive.  As important as it was to bring acceptable offerings sacrificed by a sanctified priest under Law, the heart of the giver was observed by God.  Everything was already the LORD's, but God delighted more in the obedience and humility of His people who gave willingly unto Him than in the sacrifice itself.    David understood this, for he wrote in Psalm 51:16-17:  "For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."  No amount of sacrifices could undo the sins committed against God, nor could atonement be obtained by offerings that amounted to bribes by an envious, greedy and begrudging giver.

It did not matter to God if the offering supplied was an ox, goat or sheep without blemish--though the value of animals varied greatly--for God looked at the motivation and attitude of the giver.  Some gave reluctantly out of duty, but others gave willingly and gladly because God had richly blessed them.  God treasured the cheerful giver far more than the sacrifice itself, for Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:7:  "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."  God's acceptance and delight in joyful givers is all of grace, not because they earned His favour through costly sacrifice.  This was always the case, even under the Law of Moses.  The command to give sacrifices of flocks and herds was an opportunity to express gratitude, thanksgiving and to please God through cheerful giving.

The faith, prayers, obedience, generosity and joyful giving of those who fear God warm His heart with love toward us.  In giving unto the LORD His due and humbling our hearts before Him in obedience, we adopt a posture that enables us to receive His blessing He purposes to provide.  In Malachi 2 God promised to pour out blessing upon glad givers there would not be room to receive.  Their gifts were measurable, but His blessings are beyond measure:  He would rebuke the devourer, make their vines fruitful, and all nations would call them blessed.  It is true what is written in Psalm 33:12:  "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance."  God's holy nation Jesus Christ has redeemed from every tribe and tongue are to be marked by humility, their love for Him and one another, and by cheerful giving freely by his grace.  All these sacrifices are a sweet savour before the LORD through the people in whom He is well-pleased.