Let me start this article with a Scripture from Hosea chapter 6 vs 6. The LORD says, “For I delight in mercy (to show compassion and mercy towards fellow humans), and not sacrifice (efforts made to get God’s attention, approval and assistance), and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings [Emphasis Mine]. To delight is to take pleasure in, to find acceptable, even rewarding. God says he is pleased when we, his children especially, through love and compassion give help to those in need- people who may not deserve it, those who may not be able to pay back. Such acts are far rewarding than going through a lengthy self-denial of a whole year of fasting. God rebuked the people of Israel in the days of Isaiah who thought they were doing enough to get God’s attention, but God seemed unmoved. They said to God, as many people today say in their hearts, as they may not have the courage to say it out loud (but God hears the voice of the heart too), ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Is 58:3. Fasting, for our application, represents all human efforts that people do with the hope that God will look down on them and be pleased to give them assistance. But consider God’s response:
“Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” Is 58:5-7. True humility is properly defined here- it is not just the bowing and kneeling before God but IDENTIFYING with others in their state of need. How we have gone far from the ways of the LORD! We spend hours and days in prayer and fasting only to ignore the needy (especially those of the household of faith) around us. We fail to identify and give helping hands to those who need it. Why? Because we fail to understand that we are the extension and channel of God to those around us. We are God’s ambassadors in the world and through us God is adequately represented when we respond appropriately to those in need because of the grace He has offered us. This, I say, by the Word of the LORD is more pleasing to God than our many ‘sacrifices’.
King Solomon, corroborating this point said, doing what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice Pr 21:3. Is it right to show mercy? Is it just to help those in need? Again, to the children of Israel God said, “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? Says the LORD. I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed cattle; and I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats” Is 1:11. How God is tired of the constant ‘going to the Mountain to seek the LORD’ that do not translate to compassion, love, obedience, mercy, justice, faithfulness. Believing women offer long fasting to avoid satisfying the needs of their husbands and men do the same to their wives. Church elders and their younger fellows give to church and fail in their responsibilities at home and communities. The Lord Jesus rebuked those who set aside God’s command, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ and say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God) Mk 7:10,11. Jesus says such people make void the commandment of God to follow the traditions of men. How we obey men than we obey God. We want to be in the good books of men and not in the book of God. God has commanded to love your neighbour as yourself, to love one another as Christ loved you, but you have chosen to deprive your neigbour (husband, wife, children, family members, those in need) so that you can be seen as a good member, deacon, minister, Pastor, etc. You don’t want to lose your position of power and influence with men in the church or ministry, so you go with the flow but you fail to obey God’s command to be just, merciful and faithful Jer 9:24.
The Prophet Micah summarized these points clearly, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Mic 6:8 What God requires today has not changed and will never change. He wants you to do justice- to give what is fair and right to those to whom you are accountable, responsible and those who are dependent on you. It is to show mercy- to care, help, relieve etc and to be humble, that is to IDENTIFY with those of your flesh- without this you cannot do justice and be merciful. Consider the Samaritan who helped the man who fell to robbers on the way between Jerusalem and Jericho. He was humble and therefore able to do what is right and showed mercy on his neighbour.
Let me then come to the issue of the knowledge of God. Prophet Hosea said, God delights in the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings Hos 6:6. Who really knows God? It goes beyond just believing that offers eternal life Jn 17:3. It is practical. Jeremiah offers insight into this knowledge of God. “…but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD” Jer 9:24. Listen to the Message Bible’s rendition of this trademark of God-
If you brag, brag of this and this only:
That you understand and know me.
I’m God, and I act in loyal love (mercy).
I do what’s right (righteousness) and set things right and fair (justice),
and delight in those who do the same things.
These are my trademarks.”
God’s Decree.
King Solomon again offers help on this subject. He affirmed that the knowledge of God is understanding Prov 9:10. It is the same understanding of which Jeremiah spoke. The understanding that makes one to depart from evil as Paul also challenged “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame” 1 Cor 15:34. It is indeed to our shame if we who claim to know God fail to walk in righteousness. Our righteous walk is what is seen as Godliness (Godlikeness) which is revealed by the trademarks of God as enumerated earlier.
Those who truly know God or have the knowledge of God will act like Him. They will reflect the image and likeness of God. This is God’s delight, it is acceptable to Him and to His glory.
As I turn my mind to the society, I see a great chasm between the religious community of Christians and an untransformed society. Why? We are known for our sacrifices more than the light we shine into the dark world. We have become a group of isolated ‘worshippers’ but not salt.
As we go through the motions of prayers, fasting and retreats which we offer to the LORD, may they be acceptable before Him, because we are also Godly- living lives that show God’s mercy, love, kindness, justice, and faithfulness to those who require them from us. AMEN!