Faithful on Fridays Blog

God is about to give a deposition of sorts in these verses; what’s His testimony?

“Gather to Me My faithful ones, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!”

There’s an appointed time called Judgment Day, The Day of the Lord, That Day, The Day of Christ, and the Day of His Coming when God will instruct the angels to bring in the spiritual harvest. I harmonized or combined the two passages where Jesus encouraged us,

Then will the sign of the Son of Man appear in heaven that makes all the families of earth mourn, and they’ll see Him coming on clouds with great power and great glory. He’ll send out His angels with a loud trumpet call gathering His elect from the four winds, from the ends of earth and heaven. Matt. 24:30-31, Mark 13:26-27

Those who have been cleansed by Jesus’ blood will be gathered, whether alive or dead, to Him in righteousness. God made a requirement of blood in the beginning, since life is in the blood (Lev. 17:11), and those who have faith in Him meet that requirement.

“Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.” 

Verses 7-13 continue God’s deposition to His chosen people, you and me, to shema: hear, listen, and obey. He’s not mad at them, He required a burnt offering with blood, but He’s not pleased with the attitude behind it. God doesn’t simply want us to fulfill a duty, but to have an attitude of gratitude. Everything already belongs to Him, He created it and owns it, and doesn’t need a thing. He’s bringing correction to His people and we’d better listen. Any good father disciplines or teaches his children right and wrong and God’s no different. It’s for our good that we analyze our actions done in His name and the motive behind it. Why do you read your Bible, go to Church and a small group, or help the poor and needy? What’s your motive? So people can see you, think what a great person are, that you’re so spiritual? Maybe a spiritual EKG is in order.

Asaph closes this first half of the deposition with these promises (vs. 14-15),

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

The bottom line? He loves you, desires your fellowship, and offers assurance that He’ll be there for you. A sacrifice is when you give up something, for something of higher value. Don’t keep your fear, anger, depression, or other emotion, sacrifice or replace it with thanksgiving and trust Him to bring you through to the other side. 

Did Asaph overhear David’s urging?

I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing. 2 Samuel 24:24b

Self-dependent or God-dependent … it’s a small price to pay.