...every beast of the forest in Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all it contains... Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; and call up Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me... He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.
Some in Israel thought they were doing God a good service by bringing their sacrifices, as if their sacrifices satisfied His hunger, when their own lives were so contrary to God's ways. He reacts by letting them know that He needed nothing from them because all things are His. The whole idea was absurd. And it's still absurd to think that we can appease God with our self-righteous acts, and thinking, when our lives are in flat out contradiction to God's ways. The only thing, God says, that is a foundational and acceptable offering, and essential for any other offering to be acceptable, is the offering of thanksgiving and covenant (pay your vows to the Most High). This, the Psalmist says, is the one who "orders his way aright". This alone honors Him. And this alone brings assurance of His Presence. To this one He promises that when they dial 911, there will be Someone at the other end of the line. He says, "call on Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you...I shall show the salvation of God." There you have it. The big two; The two heart qualities that have everything to do with anything in our relationship with God. Without these, anything else is a stench to Him.
Thanksgiving
The attitude of thanksgiving is one of deep humility. We know who we are and we know who He is and, that we could ever know His attention and affection, this is always pouring out of us in deep gratitude and expressive thanksgiving. In a day when self-importance, self-pampering, self-protection, and self-expression are not only predominant, but promoted, there's a whole lot of dieing to ourselves that needs to happen. Well, let's get at it because, if we don't die, we will die.
Covenant
The attitude of covenant is one of deep commitment. We know what He gave, and we know what we promised to Him, and we are forever given to Him in love, faithfulness, purity, devotion, service and worship, both in life and in death. This isn't some romantic fling at the altar. This is what some called "selling out to God". This is the "from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish" kind of calling, that doesn't suffer memory loss along the way. These are a people who have the character to keep their vows.
What a deep and powerful relationship! Don't ever think you can settle for anything less. It's too sacred for that.
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