Today’s reading is Psalm 40.
In case you wonder whether we are allowed to find Jesus in psalms where the psalmist proclaims his own sinfulness (as we’ve done in the past), the Hebrew writer finds Jesus in Psalm 40. In Hebrews 10:5-7, the author is talking about Jesus and applies this quote to Him:
Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body you have prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’
However, you may have noticed a difference. Psalm 40 says, “You have given me an open ear.” Hebrews says, “A body you have prepared for me.” This is because the author of Hebrews is quoting from the Greek translation. Honestly, I’m not quite sure why the Greek translation turns receiving an “open ear” into a “body.” Frankly, trying to figure that out is above my pay grade.
Here’s what is fascinating. In Psalm 40, David’s point is God wants more than sacrifice from David. He wants submission. He wants obedience. He wants sincerity. That is, there is no room for “sin all you want as long as you offer the sacrifice.” Yes, David, sacrifice is available when you need it. But don’t let that be permission to sin. Put the Law in your heart and follow it. However, when the Hebrew author quotes it, he ends up at almost the opposite point. The whole point in Hebrews is that God does want a sacrifice. Jesus is that sacrifice. He is the offering once for all that God did want.
The point seems to be that God wanted a plan that would get rid of sacrifice and offering. Therefore, He prepared a body for the Son of David that would be the ultimate sacrifice. When the Son of David came to do the will of God that was recorded for Him in the scroll of the book, it was to be the ultimate sacrifice that made all other sacrifices unnecessary.
What an amazing King we have. How can we do anything but shout, “Great is the Lord!”
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Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family
- What are your initial reactions to the psalm and the written devo above?
- Why are you thankful for Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice?
- How does this psalm make the point that we aren’t supposed to let sacrifice be a license to sin?
- How can you put God’s law in your heart and avoid sin?
- What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this psalm and our discussion today?
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