Sacrifices of Joy

A Season of Thanksgiving
Terry R. Baughman

“And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord” (Psalm 27:6 NKJ).

Sacrifice involves cost. It is a surrender of something of value in order for it to be considered a sacrifice. In the Old Testament a sacrifice was an act of slaughtering an animal or surrendering a possession as an offering to God. For it to be a meaningful act of worship the gift must be something of value, often the thing was most valued, to honor God or to seek His favor. 

On one occasion David prepared to build an altar and offer sacrifices to God. When he approached a landowner to purchase the place for the altar and animals for the sacrifice, Araunah offered to freely give it all to the king. The King refused the generous offer of Araunah and said, “I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24 NIV). 

Inherent in the concept of sacrifice is the understanding of cost. Value is exchange to achieve something of greater value. One source stated, joyful sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love even more. Perhaps that’s the greatest way to explain sacrifices of joy that David wrote about in the Psalms. He had a right valuation for God. Anything that he could offer was unable to compare with the greatness of God and His limitless provision. 

Before he died, David desired to honor God with the construction of a permanent temple to replace the tent that had long been transported to various locations in Israel’s history. Though God did not permit David to build this temple, he was allowed to secure the location and begin stockpiling supplies for its construction. (See 1 Chronicles 22.) Throughout David’s life and beyond his death the sacrifices he made to God continued to be a blessing to others, and were honored by God. 

Though we do not offer blood sacrifices on the altar of an ancient temple, like David we can learn the beautiful value of bringing to God our greatest value. With joy we can enter His presence singing His praises. We can contribute to the work of His kingdom in the world through our missions giving, our local church mission, and the support of the ministry. When we all give, we invariably receive more than we have ever sacrificed. The more we give the more is returned to us. This is our joyous service and our grateful sacrifice. 

The writer of Hebrews encouraged, “Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:15–16 NKJ). He will always honor our thanksgiving and receive our sacrificial praise. In this season of giving, may we remember it is with joy we sacrifice to Him. 



Theme passage:
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4 NKJ).