August 9 ▪ Day 221

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 21:3
Deuteronomy 29–30
Mark 1
Psalms 37

Verse Focus (Proverbs 21:3)

To do what is right and just
     is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Meditation

Today’s verse focus is Proverbs 21:3. “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” This is an important principle to remember even though we no longer live during a time when we offer animal sacrifices to God. The Old Testament sacrifices were required both for the entire nation and for individuals — it was a means of atonement, as well as a means of honoring and thanking God. But God tells us there are things He cares more about than the process by which we are cleansed and sanctified. If we were to re-write this proverb for modern day believers, it might say, “To do what is right and just is more important than believing in Jesus.” Now, I know that’s a pretty shocking statement. Nor is my rewrite of Scripture actually what the Bible says. But this is just to help you understand the importance of what God is telling us in this proverb.

There are a few other things that God cares more about than sacrifice, too. Jesus liked to quote Hosea 6:6, saying, “I desire mercy not sacrifice (Matthew 8:13, Matthew 12:7).” And when Samuel rebuked Saul for disobeying the LORD’s instructions, he said, in 1 Samuel 15:22, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”

So to do what is right and just, to extend mercy, and to obey are all more important than sacrifice — or, to use the modern paraphrase, more important than believing in Jesus. Of course, it’s kind of a deceitful parallel because if you do not do what is right and just, if you are not merciful, and if you do not obey God, how can you really say that you believe in Christ? Faith in Jesus should result in a transformed life that will manifest itself in justice, righteousness, mercy, and obedience.

I think it’s also important to consider this proverb in New Testament terms, too. In Old Testament terms, sacrifice refers to the burnt offerings, sin offerings, peace offerings, and more that were required by the Mosaic law. But in the New Testament, we think of sacrifice in terms of self-denial. And Paul does exhort us to become living sacrifices to God. I think this proverb refers to this kind of sacrifice as well. Doing what is right and just and being merciful and obedient is far more important than other ways we might serve God through self-denial and sacrifice. (Not that sacrifice isn’t an important thing for us to learn — but, still, priorities!)

Father God, help us to always do what pleases you. Teach us to do what is right and just. Help us to obey your voice and your Word. And give us hearts that are merciful because you are merciful to us. Renew us by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God made a covenant with the people of Israel at Horeb, as told in the book of Exodus. The Ten Commandments were given, the law was recited, and covenant was confirmed in Exodus 24. Here in Deuteronomy 29, while in Moab, God makes a covenant with Israel “in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb (v. 1).” Typically we talk about this covenant made with the second generation of Israelites as a renewal of the covenant made at Horeb. From the Israelites point of view, it was a renewal because a new generation was hearing the terms of the covenant and agreeing to it. However, according to what verse 1 tells us, God sees it as an addendum to the covenant made at Horeb. God had not broken the covenant and He did not need to renew it. Indeed, the blessings and the curses are part of this addendum.

Moses tells the Israelites that this covenant is being made, not just with those present on this day, but also “with whoever is not here with us today (v. 15).” I believe Moses speaks of all the future generations of Israelites. “Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do,” Moses tells them in verse 9.

Moses says something pretty remarkable at the beginning of Deuteronomy 30. “When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you,” he says in verse 1. When. Not if, but when. Indeed, we already know that these curses came upon the Israelites both with the fall of the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC and the fall of Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom in 586 BC. But here in Deuteronomy 30, Moses promises them that when these curses fall on them and they are exiled to foreign lands, then they will repent and turn back to the LORD, and the LORD will forgive them. God will gather them back again, and they shall be “more prosperous and numerous than your fathers (v. 5).”

Moses also promises that God “will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul (v. 6).” He tells them that the commandment “is not too hard for you, neither is it far off (v. 11).” On the contrary, Moses tells them in verse 14, “But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”

It comes down to an essential choice between “life and good, death and evil (v. 15).” Moses exhorts the Israelites in verse 19, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.”

Today we begin re-reading the gospel of Mark. There is a sense of immediacy about this gospel. The action moves very quickly. We move from the prophecy in Isaiah to John the Baptist’s ministry in the wilderness, to Jesus’ baptism and the testimony of God, to Jesus’ temptations in the desert, and then to the beginning of Jesus’ own ministry in Galilee. He calls disciples, and heals many people.

Today what struck me as I read this chapter was our first hearing of Jesus’ message. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand,” says Jesus in verse 15, “repent and believe in the gospel.”

It is, as I have pointed out before, remarkably similar to John the Baptist’s message as recorded in Matthew 3:2, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” But Jesus doesn’t just say that the kingdom of God is “at hand” — he says, “The time is fulfilled.” The time is fulfilled. The time for the Messiah to come. The time for God’s redemption of the human race. Biblical prophecies are fulfilled. As the KJV of Galatians 4:4 puts it, it was “the fullness of the time.”

There are a number of different meanings to fulfill, or to the Greek word that is being translated as fulfilled — pléroó (πληρόω). The word means to accomplish, to complete, to fulfill. It also means to make full, to satisfy, to execute, to finish, to end or expire, to perfect, and to supply. So time is made full. Time is satisfied. Time is complete. Time is expired. Time is ended. Lots of different nuances here. I think about how Christ fulfills the purpose of time.

What does this mean for us today? If time was fulfilled when Christ came 2,000 years ago, does it remain fulfilled now? We think of the fulfillment of time as relating to all that Christ came to do — the crucifixion, his death, his resurrection. But Jesus said it was fulfilled “and the kingdom of God is at hand.” That implies that it is the kingdom of God on earth that is the fulfillment of time. Even though it is currently a mixed kingdom, God is still here and present in His people. And that is what the fulfillment of time is all about. Immanuel. God with us.

So, “repent and believe in the gospel” is what we do in the kingdom of God. And this is just as important now as it was 2,000 years ago. As Moses said, “Choose life.”

Psalm 37 is a comforting psalm. There’s something about the thrice repeated “Fret not yourself” that speaks to my soul each time I read this chapter. There are plenty of positive commandments, too. But somehow when Scripture tells me not to fret, I realize suddenly that I have been fretting. I might not have recognized what I was doing if it weren’t for Scripture telling me to stop worrying.

I love verse 3. “Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.” Also verse 7a, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.”

Verse 20 tells us that the wicked will perish. “Like smoke they vanish away.” They don’t just vanish like smoke, they are smoke — without substance or impact.

Father God, thank you that you preserve the righteous and that there is a sure and certain future for those who trust in you. Thank you for reminding me to stop worrying. Keep my heart from fretting over troubling people or circumstances. Help me to be still before you. Thank you that your kingdom is here on earth, even now. One day it will not be hidden, but all will see your glory. Help us to repent, and to share the good news of your love in Christ Jesus. Help us to choose you, and to choose the abundant life you offer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.