Sacrifices (Proverbs 21:27)

There is nothing good that a wicked man can do for the Lord. His heart is wicked, therefore every intent that he has within his heart is wicked.

"The sacrifice of the wicked is exceedingly disgusting and abhorrent [to the Lord]; how much more when he brings it with evil intentions?" Proverbs 21:27, Amplified

The heart of a man must be right with the Lord in order for his sacrifices to mean anything. So if we are wicked by nature, how do we get to this point of purity? The answer is within the text.

The sacrifices of the wicked are a disgusting thing to the Lord because of the state of his heart. He has not made the effort to cleanse himself or rid himself of his wickedness. He has no desire to change. But he is even more disgusting when he brings his sacrifices with evil intent. It is like bringing gifts to placate the gods but never intending to change your ways. What is the point? There is nothing in my own possessions that the Lord would ever want above my heart. My heart is the only sacrifice that I can give to the Lord. But if I bring anything else to give him in place of my heart, it will mean nothing if I have no intent to change.

If one wishes to change, he must couple strong desire with strong will. Have a desire to change and the fortitude to do so. I am not implying that there is anything I can do to earn the love of God or to earn passage into heaven. However, I have to want to change. I have to want to make an effort to change. I have to actively make better choices in my life.

It may be surprising to some, but there are a few things that God cannot do. One of those things is to change a heart that is unwilling to change.

K.I.S.S. [Keep It Simple Stupid] (Proverbs 21:3)

Sometimes simple actions are so much more important to the Lord than what we think.

"To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." Proverbs 21:3, Amplified

Simple acts of obedience are more important to the Lord than huge acts of liturgy. We think that we need to do something great to please Him when all it takes is obedience. "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8, NKJV) Where is the sacrifice at? The Lord does not need the blood of bulls and goats to be pleased. "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6, NKJV)

Religion always seems to place a huge emphasis on sacrifices and offerings, but the Lord only desires obedience. Can we still sacrifice and give Him offerings? Of course. But the Lord would rather our hearts be right with him first before we gave the sacrifice and offering. "'To what purpose is the multitude of you sacrifices to Me?' says the Lord. 'I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or goats.'" (Isaiah 1:11, NKJV) "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as the iniquity of idolatry." (First Samuel 15:22-23a, NKJV) The Lord makes it very clear what He desires of His children.

Obedience and the Pursuit of Righteousness (Proverbs 15:8-9)

There is no question about how the Lord feels about anything. He never puts Himself in a place where we have to guess at what He wants. The Lord has made it very clear what His desires are and what He expects; He has drawn that proverbial line in the sand with His own finger.

"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight!" Proverbs 15:8, Amplified

Sacrifice means nothing to the Lord if the heart is not turned toward Him. Liturgy means nothing. No amount of religious rites can turn the wrath of God away from anyone. The the children of Israel He said, "Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings." (Amos 5:22, NKJV) Why? Because of the state of the heart of the entire nation. I hate to say it, but America is on that same path. But there is a clue for us to understand what the Lord wants. "So Samuel said: 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." (I Samuel 15:22, NKJV) The Lord would rather have an obedient heart than a multitude of sacrifices.

"The way of the wicked is an abomination, extremely disgusting and shamefully vile to the Lord, but He loves him who pursues righteousness [spiritual and moral rectitude in every area and relation]." Proverbs 15:9, Amplified

The reason that the Lord cannot accept the sacrifices of the wicked is because of the path that they are on. In this verse, t he Lord tells us that the way of the wicked is something that He cannot stand. Self gratification of the flesh is what the Lord cannot stand for. To deny the flesh is to follow the Lord. I am not saying that I have achieved this, but it is a goal that I am striving for. Until then I am assured that as I reach for that goal, the Lord looks favorably on me and anyone else who has made that their goal.