Psalm 40:5-6 speaks of God multiplying His thoughts and deeds towards us; so much so that they could not be counted and He have given us an open ear which is more meaningful to God than sacrifices.
Where else does the Bible speak of God having thoughts and deeds towards us and why is an open ear more valuable to God than sacrifices?
There are several places in the Bible where God’s thoughts and deeds towards us are mentioned. Here are a few examples:
- Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
- Psalm 139:17-18 says, “How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.”
- Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
As for why an open ear is more valuable to God than sacrifices, we can look to several passages in the Bible.
In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel tells King Saul, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
In Psalm 51:16-17, David says, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
These passages suggest that what God truly desires from us is obedience and a humble heart that is open to His leading. Sacrifices can be a meaningful way to express our devotion to God, but they are not a substitute for genuine repentance and a willingness to follow His will.
In the case of Psalm 40:5-6, the open ear symbolizes a willingness to listen to God’s voice and follow His commands, which is more pleasing to Him than any outward show of devotion.
Intentional Faith 