Have you ever heard someone say “My father owns the cattle on a thousand hills”? I know that I have. I have fond memories of my mother-in-law when she was alive using this phrase fairly often, especially at family gatherings. And like most people, she said it as a way of expressing her belief that her Father in heaven had the means to provide for her every need; which of course is absolutely true! Now I think that those of us who live in the Panhandle also have a particular fondness for this saying since we are in the heart of “cattle country.” So, although we may be familiar with this statement, do you know where this statement appears in the Bible? Would you be surprised that it appears in the book Psalms?
If you’re participating in the Bible reading plan you may have come across this verse on recently when reading Psalm 50. So, let’s pick things up starting at verse 7 – “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.” In context, this statement is actually connected to the O.T. sacrificial system. Now like me, you may have recently spent some time reading about all the sacrifices which God required of the children of Israel as described in the books of Leviticus and Numbers. As Psalm 50 describes, some of those sacrifices involved animals such as bulls, or goats, or birds which were necessary during that time for the atonement of sin.
It’s interesting that although many of the Psalms were written by King David, Psalm 50 was written by a guy by the name of Asaph. And guess what? Asaph was a Levite and the Levites were given the responsibility for overseeing worship in the temple. So Asaph would have been keenly aware of the significance for each of the animal sacrifices. As a Levite, that was his life! So why now in Psalm 50 does God declare through Asaph that He will no longer accept their sacrifice of a bull or goat? Let’s continue reading in verse 13 – “Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
Why was God unwilling to accept their sacrifice? It appears that it was because it was not being offered along with a heart of thanksgiving. God’s people were regularly bringing their sacrifices, but maybe it had become so routine that their hearts were not right. I wonder if we are ever guilty of that? Perhaps we regularly make sacrifices in the areas of time, finances, friends, job, community, and comfort. That describes many people at TBC . . . and is commendable! But what is the heart behind those sacrifices? Is it out of thankfulness for who God is and all He has done for us? Listen to what God says at the very end in verse 24 – “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me.”
As with many things in life, our motivation for doing the things we do matters. When it comes to our sacrifices, we should take a moment to consider whether we are making them for our own glory or for God’s glory. What a privilege it is to serve our God! Today I want to encourage you that in whatever capacity you are serving, be sure to make a heart of thanksgiving a part of your sacrifice to God.
Brian Everett
Church Council Member