Today’s Verse is somewhat “dated.”

It is “Old Testament” to the core!

A worship verse, though. “I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.” Psalm 66:15

This is Mosaic ritual, at its best.

Giving to God animal sacrifice, no doubt each little creature being (in  some lovely way) a “picture” of the coming Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. Who died on the Cross to forgive us of our sin.

But two words suffice to give us the “essence,” the “sprit” of the Text.

I will capitalize those words now. “I will OFFER unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the INCENSE of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.”

In both cases (the verb “will offer” and the noun “incense”) the idea is something wafting upward, gently rising to the heavens! Toward God, to be received at His Pleasure!

“To offer” literally is “alah” in Hebrew, “to go up, ascend, climb!”

And “incense” is “qetoreth,” meaning “odor, perfume, odor,” in a good way. The aroma does rise, you know!

And even “Selah” may have the same idea. It’s some sort of musical term, maybe even indicating the use of “high” voices, sopranos we would say today. My computer software defines “selah” as a “lifting up” of some sort!

BUT …

How does one transfer this Old Testament Truth into New Testament practice?

Hebrews 13:15 beautifully does so, a single verse. “By him (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

Not the smoke of dead, burning animals any more … but the sincere words (sounds) of our mouths (lips) thanking and praising Almighty God for His daily benefits! Our words too, surely, drift upward, toward His Listening Ears!

Even Hosea says about the same thing, that long ago! “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” Hosea 14:2

Wow!

Our lips, our expressions of adoration … as good as “calves” or “sheep” or “doves,” once offered to God above!

Let me close for today by saying …

“The Lord is good!”

“Praise His Name!”

“Hallelujah!”

Get the idea?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell