June 2000

"God is the Lord
Who has shown us Light;
bind the sacrifice
to the horns of the altar
with cords!"(Ps 118:27)

By Carole Forde

[8 of 8]

ear these words of Paul,

"WE ARE ‘BOUND’ TO ALWAYS GIVE THANKS TO GOD!" (2 Th 2:13)
"GIVE THANKS IN E V E R Y T H I N G
(even if you can’t see its Godly purpose)
FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD!!" (1 Th 5:1:8)

By what "cords" are Sacrifices of Praise, Faith and Thanksgiving bound to God’s altar? "I drew (My corporate Son, Israel) with CORDS OF A MAN; and BANDS OF LOVE! To them I was as One Who lifts up and eases the yoke (of transgressions) off their necks; then I bent down gently laying food before them, saying, "THEY SHALL NOT GO INTO ANOTHER BONDAGE TO EGYPT (lit. ‘Oppression’)!" (Hos 11:4,5)

"Oh, that men would PRAISE THE LORD (even in adversity) for His Goodness and wonderful works toward the children of men! He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness! They who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, are BOUND in afflictions and irons for rebelling against the Words of God, andcondemning the counsel of the Most High.. So He brought down their proud heart with labor and they fell down; and there was none to help! Finally they cried out to Him in their trouble; and HE SAVED THEM out of their distress. He brought them out of their darkness and shadow of death and HE BROKE THE BONDS THAT HELD THEM!" (Ps 107:8-14)

What is the "Altar" on which our Sacrifices are to be offered? It is Christ Jesus, Himself! (Heb 13:10-14) Our opening text says because "God is the Lord Who has shown us Light!" we are to: "Bind the sacrifice to the HORNS (fig. "strength") of the altar (Christ)?" It is the Strength of Christ (and not our own) to which we are to entrust and secure our sacrifices! For it is only by the "Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God" that we are able to see what sacrifices are pleasing to God!! He especially loves our "sacrifices of Joy" in the midst of our sorrowful situations!
                 Grace prevents us from shrinking from the Purging Fire of God’s Presence! He scourges and chastises us just to free us from our bondage to self! But HE says when and what chastenings and scourgings we need! God appoints those who will crucify us! Our flesh only seeks to destroy what offends us; but Christ destroys what offends Him! If we are repelled by man’s evil deeds, it is because they serve as a mirror in which we behold the image of our own FLESH! Our hearts condemn us, but we can’t face our own reality; so we pass the buck and condemn them; instead of being convicted by our own need of redemption! That is why we need the Light of Christ to change our mirror into a window, through which we see the Truth! Then when we are vexed by all the evil around us, we can look inward and pray for humility, repentance and wisdom; remembering that God’s purposes for evil are good; and are but a preface to His Revelation of Righteousness! So let us offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise; and then "Bind that sacrifice to the altar!" Amen!