I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Psalm 50:10-15
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Psalm 50:23
Just a few thoughts from my Bible reading today... In verses 10 and 11, God makes it clear that He owns it all. Every beast of the forest, the cattle upon a thousand hills, the fowls of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field, belong to God. Verses 12 and 13 ask a question that answers itself. If God were hungry, would He need to tell us? He doesn't need us! What He really wants is found in verses 14-15 and 23. The Lord isn't interested in burnt offerings as much as He wants your thanksgiving, your cry in time of trouble, and your life.
God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, but gives you the freedom to choose to serve Him or yourself. Right here in Psalm 50, we see what God wants the most: not all the sacrifices carefully spelled out in Leviticus, but your heart. What good does it do to serve God and not know Him personally? The Creator is a personal God who created you to do the things mentioned in verses 14-15, and 23.
This is a simple check-up to make sure our lives are clean and acceptable before God before we try to impress Him with sacrifices and offerings. He doesn't need our help -- we are the ones who need Him. Offer Him thanksgiving and praise, depend on Him to deliver you out of trouble, and set your conversation (general way of life) aright, and He will be glorified.
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