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9/8 Reading Portions: 2 Samuel 2; 1 Corinthians 13; Ezekiel 11; Psalm 50
Psalm 50:23
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me;
SACRIFICE
Mr. Spurgeon writes of this first portion of the verse:
“Praise is the best sacrifice; true, hearty, gracious thanksgiving from a renewed mind.” Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Pilgrim Publications, Pasadena, TX, 1983; pg. 436
In this psalm, we recognize the glimpses of grace in the Sacrifice of sacrifices through the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Israel’s burnt offerings were continually before YHVH God (Psa 50:8) because they foreshadowed the true consecration of Christ’s sacrifice (Heb 9:13-14). Yet at the same time, the blood of bulls and goats was unacceptable before God (Psa 50:9) because the blood of those animals was insufficient to take away sin (Heb 10:4); as evident by the need to continually offer those sacrifices year after year (Heb 10:1-3).
Because the Lord Jesus, as perfect Man, called upon His God while He hung upon the cross in the day of trouble (Psa 50:15) by quoting Psalm 22:1, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt 27:46), Christ’s perfect sacrifice is applied to the account of all those who trust in Him for salvation. The corrupt flesh still remaining in our mortal bodies hates to acknowledge grace, the work of the Spirit, and the sovereignty of God (Rom 7:18, 23; Gal 5:17). Yet when by God’s grace and in the power of the Spirit you and I lift voices of praise unto God in Christ, the LORD delights in our thanksgiving; He is honored by our humble sacrifice and is glorified each time it takes place because it can only be done in the power of His Spirit. On our part, to offer true, heart-felt thanksgiving, we must submit completely to the mighty God (Psa 50:1).
