The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Hebrews 10:8,
"First he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them'—though they were offered in accordance with the law."
Now here is an interesting statement by the writer of Hebrews. He quotes Psalm 40:6-8 to say that the very sacrifices God provided for Israel, to atone for their sins, was something God didn't desire or was pleased with. That being the case, why did God ask they be made?
It is, as always, important to follow the writer's train of thought (hence, the ever present danger of cherry-picking verses to prove theological points of view). This verse needs to be read with some context, a context that includes what David went on to say in Psalm 40:6-8. The Hebrews passage begins with "First he said" in verse 8 and continues with "Then he said", verse 9. That verse continues what David had to say in Psalm 40:6-8. It is a prophetic utterance of the Son of God, Jesus Christ himself, a millenia prior to his coming into the world.
What that utterance is, is the Son of God speaking to God the Father, "Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart." Psalm 40:7-8. That "will" of the Father was for the Son to enter into the human race and sacrifice himself for the sins of the world - once for all.
"First he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them'—though they were offered in accordance with the law."
Now here is an interesting statement by the writer of Hebrews. He quotes Psalm 40:6-8 to say that the very sacrifices God provided for Israel, to atone for their sins, was something God didn't desire or was pleased with. That being the case, why did God ask they be made?
It is, as always, important to follow the writer's train of thought (hence, the ever present danger of cherry-picking verses to prove theological points of view). This verse needs to be read with some context, a context that includes what David went on to say in Psalm 40:6-8. The Hebrews passage begins with "First he said" in verse 8 and continues with "Then he said", verse 9. That verse continues what David had to say in Psalm 40:6-8. It is a prophetic utterance of the Son of God, Jesus Christ himself, a millenia prior to his coming into the world.
What that utterance is, is the Son of God speaking to God the Father, "Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart." Psalm 40:7-8. That "will" of the Father was for the Son to enter into the human race and sacrifice himself for the sins of the world - once for all.
The Hebrews author's context is that from the perspective of the new state of the things of God when Jesus Christ had sacrificed himself to pay for the sins of mankind. It is from this perspective the Father was not satisfied with the reoccurring sacrifices the priests made at the altar. Those sacrifices would never provide the perfect atonement that Jesus made of himself. His sacrifice perfectly satisfied the Father's sense of justice. The old sacrificial system was only a symbol of what was to come, to help us recognize it when the time for it had come (in God's good timing).
The purpose of the sacrifices God gave Israel was to point to the perfect sacrifice for sins that would be coming in Jesus Christ. In a graphic way these sacrifices foretold the horrible death the Son of God would make on our behalf. They communicated God's justice in his requirement for the payment of sins, as well as expressing his boundless love for us in sending his Son to provide that perfect atonement.
It really is quite breathtaking to think about!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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