Bible Verses on things more important than offerings and Sacrifices

Note: I am presently away overseas and this is a pre-scheduled post.

I thought I share something from my own study while overseas.

There are things more important than Old Testament offering and sacrifices.  This is according to Old Testament Scripture.

So here are things more important than offerings and sacrifices…

1. Obedience: ““Has the Lord as much 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.” (1 Samuel 15:22)

 

More tangibly what does that look like?

2. Justice: ““I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I [a]delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 “Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. 23 “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. 24 “But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:21-24)

3-4. Justice, loving-kindness and humility: “With what shall I come to the Lord And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? 7 Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love [a]kindness, And to walk [b]humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:6-8)

 

But it is not just outward duty…

5. Delighting to do God’s Will as found in His Word: “Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have [b]opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is [c]written of me. 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”” (Psalm 40:6-8)

 

Of course to obey God require being motivated by the knowledge of God…

6. Knowledge of God: ““For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 7 But like [a]Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me..” (Hosea 6:6-7)

 

But what if we realize we sin and don’t always obey?

7.A broken and repentant heart: ““For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise..” (Psalm 51:16-17)

Isn’t that pretty cool?