Psalms 40
There is much in the Bible about something we do not now do,—that is to sacrifice an animal when we do wrong.
When the first man and woman on earth disobeyed God, they learned of a sacrifice, and their sons, Cain and Abel, knew an animal must be offered because of sins, and the people after them who believed God, made sacrifices of animals and birds, and there were many laws for the nation of Israel about these.
King David, who wrote this 40th psalm, gave many sacrifices for sins and to honor God. Yet, we here read that sacrifices were not what God could take pleasure in, and that another way had been planned, — there was One to come (the Lord Jesus) Who would fulfill God’s will, and in Whom He would be pleased. These verses are written as though the One to come were speaking the words:
“Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offerings and sin offerings hast Thou not required,
“Then said I, Lo,I come: in the volume of the Book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O my God.”
In olden times the ear of a slave was marked or bored by his master as a sign he was to obey commands. And this One to come would have the place of a servant. But notice, this One would not be forced to be a servant, but would be willing to be one, for He says,
“Lo, I come.” “Lo” means there is something very special to wonder about; so those who heard these words would wonder about such a One to come.
“In the volume of the book”, does not mean just the same as we think of a book, but those words show that, in the past, a sure plan had been made of this One to come. And the words of God, after the first sin of Adam and Eve, tell of such a One (Genesis 3:1515And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)). David could not have known to write this psalm except the Lord had shown him.
Those words are quoted in the New Testament in the Book of Hebrews. There we learn the willing One to come to earth as a servant to God was the Son of God. Who became a man and gave His life, here, a sacrifice for sin. God, the Father took delight in Him, and another sacrifice never is needed. These are some of the verses from the Book of Hebrews:
“Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will O God. He taketh away the first that He may establish the second..... through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. See Hebrews 10:1-121For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:1‑12)).
Not all the blood of beasts
On Israel’s altars slain,
Could give the guilty conscience peace,
Or wash away its stain.
But Christ, the heavenly Lamb,
Took all our guilt away.
A sacrifice of nobler name,
And richer blood than they.
ML 08/25/1940