Heart Of Ritual

Hosea 6:6  For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.  

Is God the author of ritual and tradition?  Many would answer with a quick, “Yes!” and be done with it.  Did not God establish atonement through sacrifice and offering?  Did this not become the ritual and tradition of countless generations of Jews?  If this is the case, wouldn’t this verse be a great contradiction?  But, contrary to popular opinion, this verse is true and without contradiction of any sort!  This verse cuts to the heart of the matter, trims away the fat, and slices through men’s misconceptions and misinterpretation. 

God set forth precise instructions for sacrifice and offering to prepare us for the advent of Christ’s final atonement.  Every detail was prescribed for a specific purpose.  These details and instructions were soon transformed into ritual and tradition by men.  This was not God’s desire or intent.  But, what would you expect from foolish men?  God intended the sacrifice and offerings to reflect the heart and soul of the people.  It was meant as an outward representation of a change of heart in the people.  We might even go so far as to equate it with the ordinance of baptism.  Baptism in and of itself, does nothing for the individual and is an outward, physical, representation of inner renewal and change.  In each case, sacrifice and baptism, men have perverted the intent and established foolish ritual and tradition.

Some might argue God was legislating morality.  If a lot of legislation leads to a little humility and fear of God, then so be it.  But, this was not the case.  God was clear in the reason for sacrifice and offering.  Atonement can be accomplished without both party’s consent and agreement.  After all, Christ atoned, once, for the sin of all men, yet not all men avail themselves of the gift.  So, the heart is the matter.  God desires not ritual as false gods demand.  Nor does he expect grandiose offerings as false prophets proclaim.  God seeks a change of heart and reconstruction of our nature through regeneration of spirit and humility of being.

Why mercy and knowledge?  Every sacrifice was for atonement of misdeed against God and men.  Some men would sacrifice and make offering for the opportunity to continue in misdeed.  God did not establish sacrifice and offering as a way to pay for evil intent, but to reflect mercy and charity of the heart.  Every sacrifice and offering drained life and resources from creation and the community.  Participation in the sacrifice and offering was a sacrifice in itself.  In sacrifice we gain knowledge of God and His mercy.  God’s acceptance of a sacrifice in our stead attests to His mercy, and our offerings gain us first-hand knowledge of God’s selfless sacrifice.  We gain immeasurable profit through true humility, service, and abeyance. 

What profit the blood of sacrifice and the works of offering when a heart remains cold, hard, and far from God?

Don’t look to the cross as a reason to continue in sin.  Christ did not atone to become a ritual sacrifice for contentious men, though some men have made it so. 

Christ atoned so we might receive the gift only He could give.  We receive it by faith in Christ’s power to atone and acknowledgement of our inability to save ourselves.  Christ died and sacrificed for the heart of the matter, our heart.

Is your heart bouncing off the slate of ritual sacrifice?

Or, is your heart resting in the hands of God, through Christ’s perfect sacrifice?