April 17 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

This is what King David said when he assumed the office of king of Israel. He was Israel's second king. Saul, the first king, had been deposed by God. Saul had thought: "As long as I give sacrifices to God, I can get away with disobedience." But the Lord said: "To obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Sam. 15:22).

When David assumed office, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire. ... I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart."

It almost seems that David went too far to the right, whereas Saul had gone too far to the left. After all, nowhere does God say that he is opposed to offerings. God gets angry when people live disobedient lives while trying to pacify their God with sacrifices. He hates the smell of those offerings, as he said repeatedly through the prophets.

But David's words were actually a prophecy. This prophecy was fulfilled when another King accepted his assignment. When Christ came into the world, he said, "With burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said,... 'I have come to do your will, my God' " (Heb. 10:6-7).

These words do not only reflect the truth David learned, namely, that offerings without obedience are unacceptable to God. They also point to the further truth that sacrifices and sin offerings cannot bring God and people together. Only the atoning death of Jesus could do that. All the sacrifices could not do what Jesus has done once for all.

Now Christ has also made it clear what the relationship between offering and obedience is. Jesus was so faithful to his oath to do God's will that he became a sacrifice to God. His sacrifice was his obedience, and his obedience led to the sacrifice. Today Christ qualifies God's children to assume their offices. They live a life of obedience: "Your law is within my heart." And this total surrender to God is the only sacrifice the Lord desires.

REFLECTIONS

Can you say, with David, "Your law is within my heart"? How is this evident in your life?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.