In their own eyes.
Judges 21:25 and Judges 17:6. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
It must be kind of important if God mentions it twice.
When we follow this course, of doing what is right in our own eyes, we are like a boat with no sails, rudder, or keel, easily blown by any wind on the waters.
Without a king, a priest, or the law, we easily become slaves to sin and to others.
In times past, we received the law and priests.
Then we demanded a king. 1 Samuel 8:19
It did not go well for us.
Then a new problem arose.
to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
To obey is better than scrificre highlights the problem of a king needing to have the people on his side and also obey God.
What if Jesus was Serious?
Daily Devotions for People Who Hate Daily Devotions
Let’s face it. A lot of Christian resources can feel cheesy, out-of-touch, and a little boring. But when Skye Jethani started doodling and writing up some of his thoughts about God, his Twitter and email list blew up. What If Jesus Was Serious? is a compilation of all-new reflections (and hand-drawn doodles) from Skye. He takes a look at some of Jesus’ most demanding teachings in the Sermon on the Mount and pushes us to ask whether we’re really hearing what Christ is saying. The visual component of the book makes it memorable and enjoyable to read, and Skye’s incisive reflections make it worthwhile for any Christian. If you’ve traditionally been dissatisfied with Christian devotional resources but love to learn about Jesus and think deeply, this book was written for you.
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own eyes
If living by what is right in our own eyes leads us to walk away from God. If sacrifices become an excuse to not obey what God says. If our obedience will never be complete. What are we to do?
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Right in their own eyes -> sacrifice-> obedience -> faith.
But faith in what?
Matt 16:13-20
Peter, who do you say I am?
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Faith -> must be in Jesus as God.
Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, (Petros, a boulder) and upon this rock (Petra, a mighty rock or set of rocks) (not upon Peter but upon Peter’s statement, that Jesus is the Christ) I will build My church (the congragation of people who believe Jesus is the Christ); and the gates of Hades (not the devil, not the idea of hell or demons, but the abode of the dead, the power of death) will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
Sting removed
From doing what is right in our own eyes, to appeasement, to faith, the crippling reality of death has its sting removed, not only in Jesus as Christ, but in Jesus as the Risen Christ.
We are now free,
Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
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Warning concerning a King.
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who had asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “This will be the [c]practice of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to [d]do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. 16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and [e]use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.”
19 Yet the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he [f]repeated them in the Lord’s hearing. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, every man to his city.”
To Obey.
1 Samuel 15:22-23
“Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice,
And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry.
Since you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He has also rejected you from being king.”
Psalm 40:6–8
You have not desired sacrifice and meal offering;
You have opened my ears;
You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
It is written of me in the scroll of the book.
I delight to do Your will, my God;
Your Law is within my [d]heart.”
Psalm 51:16–17 & Hebrews 10:5-7
For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You do not take pleasure in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.
Proverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice
Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.
Isaiah 1:11–17
“What are your many sacrifices to Me?”
Says the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fattened cattle;
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.
When you come to appear before Me,
Who requires of you this trampling of My courtyards?
Do not go on bringing your worthless offerings,
Incense is an abomination to Me.
New moon and Sabbath, the proclamation of an assembly—
I cannot endure wrongdoing and the festive assembly.
I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am tired of bearing them.
So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you offer many prayers,
I will not be listening.
Your hands are covered with blood.
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.
Stop doing evil,
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor,
Obtain justice for the orphan,
Plead for the widow’s case.
Amos 5:21–24
“I hate, I reject your festivals,
Nor do I delight in your festive assemblies.
Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fattened oxen.
Take away from Me the noise of your songs;
I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.
But let justice roll out like waters,
And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13, Matthew 12:7
For I desire loyalty rather than sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Micah 6:7
Does the Lord take pleasure in thousands of rams,
In ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give Him my firstborn for my wrongdoings,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?