An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Give It Up for Jesus

(Proverbs 17:1 KJV)  Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

If you do any comparisons of translations you see two different words used for “sacrifices” (2077).  The other, as in the NASB, is “feasting”.   The Hebrew word is a word that means sacrifice.  Where does “feasting” come out of “sacrifice?”

The ancient Hebrews would have understood.  Us modern folk miss one of the big points of sacrifice.  We focus on the idea of atonement.  As it says in Hebrews,
(Hebrews 9:22 KJV)  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
This is the central truth of the sacrifice and we see that in the Cross.

But with the Cross is the Lord’s Supper.  Modern skeptics think that God is some kind of selfish monster and when an ox was sacrificed it was a waste of good meat.  Not so.  Selected portions were burned but most of the animal was used for a feast.  It was eaten.  Part of the sacrifice was the banquet that went with it.

So?  God demands sacrifice but keep in mind there is always some kind of benefit that comes from that giving.  It may not be immediate and, to be honest, you may not see it, but it is there.  This is another part of what it means to live by faith.

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