Psalm 51:16–17 (ESV): “16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Religious activities don’t please God. He isn’t impressed with our vain offerings. What He desires is a broken and contrite heart. Check your heart—it is what truly matters to God.
As David laments his sin, he recognizes the importance of his heart posture before God. For months, he had been offering sacrifices to God with an unrepentant heart. He no doubt felt the emptiness of his religious activities. The Lord was looking at his sin-stained heart and was grieved. It wasn’t until David was broken and crushed by godly sorrow that he finally felt the peace of God come upon him. This is what led him to true repentance.
Are you attempting to worship a holy God with an unrepentant heart? Isaiah declares: “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? … When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me.” The only thing God is interested in is your heart. We must come to Him broken and crushed, as David did, or we will not experience His peace and forgiveness. Ask the Lord to break your heart for what breaks His.
Father, forgive us for being unrepentant and hard-hearted at times. Break us this day, that our hearts might be pleasing to You. Grieve us with godly sorrow that leads to repentance, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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