Psalm 40:1-6 “For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies. Many, LORD, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are towards us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted. Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.”

David recognizes that God has heard him, helped him, and established him! In turn, he praises God for His help, His graciousness, and His forgiveness. But why wouldn’t God require offerings and sacrifices? That’s against His law! The point here is that God would rather his people led lives that didn’t need sacrifices and offerings to atone for sin. He wants His people to be holy, but has provided a way to take care of their sin when they aren’t.

We have a perfect sacrifice for our sin. God hears us when we call out to Him for forgiveness through Jesus, and establishes us forever by giving us His Spirit. Once we are His we should know better than to sin, and have the power inside of us to resist sin, but we do still sometimes sin. The glorious, good news is that we are still God’s children because Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is once and for all and for always, and our day-to-day relationship with Him is easily restored. Talk about a reason for praise!

Hebrews 9:12 “nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption.”

Hebrews 13:15 “Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.”

For additional worship: He Keeps Me Singing Medley