Notes from devotional readings today!

A little meditation on Psalm 50 today: Is God really hungry? Love that question He asks His people in the poem. God’s tone is tangible here! He’s definitely talking to humans–folks like us! And Asaph captures it! Does He really need our religion, the tabernacle then later the temple; do they contain Him who made the very wood and stones used for their construction….Asaph as a priest, could probably see when people were being phony with God! Or had slipped from true relationship to hollow religious practice.

I love this poem by Asaph who was one of David’s choir leaders. It’s sort of a corrective for overly religious people who have lost the heart of their spirituality. The tone is great. God is even being funny. In someways, it seems like it’s written to the choir—or priest. God says, look. I don’t need your religion, your animal sacrifices. I made all the animals you sacrifice to me! My favorite line: “Do you really think I’m hungry? If I were, I wouldn’t tell you!”

That’s God being cheeky, maybe not facetious, but at least ironic, and corrective of religion. Do you really think I need your sacrifices? He ends on a more hopeful note—be thankful, because thanks prepares a way, actually into God!

Great Psalm, and the tone is hilarious. Other gods did evidently get hungry, need child sacrifice or fruit sacrifices; or, were capricious in their needs like the Greek gods—but this One is saying, look priest and people, do you really think I’m hungry! I love it when Father gets cheeky with His people.

It may be a corrective for overly religious priest or folks, as Asaph would have smelt hypocrisy and religious spirit a mile away! Look, all your sacrifices are great, they orient you, but I made everything you are sacrificing, do you really think I’m concerned with your religious practices. I’m much more concerned with your hearts, that’s where i want to write my Law or Ways. You read the law, but don’t ingest it, or really live by it! Jesus said the same thing much later.

Anyways, I like it when Father is funny in His rebukes! Very down to earth! And I seriously doubt He is hungry! But we certainly are! Had a nice spiritual chuckle reading this one today! Thankful it was written. Let’s keep it real folks.