Psalm 50: Give Him Thanks!

“ Do I eat the flesh of bulls

or drink the blood of goats?

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and perform your vows to the Most High…”

Psalm 50:13-14

In Psalm 50, we have already seen that all things are God’s, and if He were hungry, He would not tell us. Does He eat the flesh of bulls? No. Does He drink the blood of goats? No. The animal sacrifices represented the need to shed blood to cleanse sin. It pointed to the sacrifice of Christ who would cover sin once for all.

So what does God ask of us? A thankful and obedient heart. A thankful heart protects us. It keeps us in truth. There are so many things for which to thank Him. To list just a few: the inexpressible gift of salvation in Christ; victory through Christ; His righteousness; He is good and His steadfast love endures forever; He takes His great power and reigns! (2 Corinthians 9:151 Corinthians 15:57, Psalm 7:17, Psalm 106:1, Revelation 11:17)

He is to be approached with thanksgiving and it causes Him to be magnified before others. (Psalm 100:4, Psalm 69:30)

Romans 1:21 warns us of the danger of sinking into the deception of unthankfulness. It says,

“For although they knew God,

they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him,

but they became futile in their thinking,

and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Lord, keep our hearts in truth, that we might be diligent to sing your thanksgiving and praise! Colossians 4:2 is a great word for our times,

“Continue steadfastly in prayer,

being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”