How does Psalm 51:19 connect to New Testament teachings on sacrifice and repentance? \Psalm 51:19 in Its Original Setting\ • Psalm 51 is David’s confession after his sin with Bathsheba. • Verse 19: “Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, in whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.” • Flow of thought: – vv. 16-17 stress that God is not impressed with mere ritual—He wants “a broken spirit.” – Once the heart is right, sacrificial worship becomes pleasing again (v. 19). • Key truth: outward offerings gain value only after genuine repentance and inner cleansing. \From Animal Altars to the Cross\ • The Old Testament altar anticipated a greater sacrifice: – Hebrews 10:4-10 — “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” – Ephesians 5:2 — Christ “gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” • Psalm 51:19 looks forward to the day when God would truly “delight” because the perfect, righteous sacrifice had come. • Animal sacrifices pointed to Jesus; His cross fulfils their meaning and ends their necessity (Hebrews 10:14). \New Covenant Sacrifices God Now Enjoys\ Because the ultimate offering has been made, believers still “bring sacrifices,” but of a different kind: • Sacrifice of praise — Hebrews 13:15 “the fruit of lips that confess His name.” • Living sacrifice — Romans 12:1 “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” • Doing good and sharing — Hebrews 13:16 “with such sacrifices God is pleased.” • Spiritual sacrifices — 1 Peter 2:5 “acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Psalm 51:19’s phrase “righteous sacrifices” is fulfilled as these Spirit-empowered acts flow from hearts cleansed by Christ. \Repentance: Same Heartbeat in Both Testaments\ • David’s repentance (Psalm 51) mirrors New Testament calls: – Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and turn back, that your sins may be wiped away.” – 2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation without regret.” • Genuine repentance yields restored fellowship, which in turn results in God-pleasing worship—exactly the pattern in Psalm 51:17-19 and in passages like Luke 15:17-24 (the prodigal’s return and the celebratory feast). \Putting It All Together for Today\ • Psalm 51:19 shows that God delights in worship that rises from a repentant, cleansed heart. • The New Testament reveals that such cleansing comes through the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. • Our ongoing “offerings” are spiritual—praise, obedience, love, service—made acceptable through Christ (1 Peter 2:5). • Whenever we confess sin and trust the finished work of the cross, we step into the joy of Psalm 51:19: God once again “delights in righteous sacrifices.” |
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