A Broken Heart

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Psalm 51:17

SACRIFICES WERE IMPORTANT to the Jews in Old Testament times. They learned from Moses a whole system of sacrifices necessary to deal with sin, show thanks, and give God praise. The book of Leviticus outlines all these special “gifts” to God.

Some Jews followed the laws precisely. Undoubtedly, many obeyed them in faith, believing God would bless them through their obedience. But other Jews focused only on performing the rituals, and they thought this somehow gave God pleasure. Without a broken heart and repentance, though, what was the significance of a sacrifice? Nothing. The sacrifice itself was meant to symbolize the internal spiritual death we all experience when we sin, not be merely a simplistic ritual.

You can sacrifice every possession you have. Yet if it’s not accompanied by a submissive, repentant heart, it does no good. However, with brokenness comes great blessing, God says. To those who come to him broken and repentant, he offers everything. Is that a sacrifice you are willing to make?