Mercy > Sacrifice

Mercy > Sacrifice

Hosea 6:6

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6, NIV)

There are few things more unsettling in Scripture than discovering that God can reject worship that looks correct.

The people of Israel were carrying out the rituals... they were making sacrifices... they were acting out the modes and methods of a religious people. And yet God said, “I do not want this.”

As Americans we have so personalized our relationship with the Lord, that we sometimes forget that God holds nations accountable. Hosea was speaking God’s Word to a nation (to Judah, Israel)... a people fluent in the language of religion... but mute in mercy.

And notice something important here: God wasn’t scolding pagans — He was confronting His own people. That should immediately grab our attention.

The Hebrew word translated “mercy” -“steadfast love” is hesed... it implies covenant; loyalty; faithfulness; devotion. It’s not about sentiment... or outward displays of affection (or outward displays period); it’s a binding, covenant love that’s rooted in God’s promises; God’s Word.

For all intents and purposes, Israel treated sacrifice as a transaction: “If we offer this, God owes us that.”

But God rejected it entirely. He does not desire ritual over relationship. Ritual in response to relationship... yes! Practice as a result of God’s grace... 100%!

But, sacrifice without covenant faithfulness is not obedience—it’s hypocrisy disguised as piety.

Of course, it reminds us that:

God has never been impressed by human performance. Think of the arrogance it takes to believe that God; the Creator and Sustainer of ALL THINGS, would ever be impressed by our meager abilities and actions! There’s nothing you or I could do, or perform, that will garner God’s favor. Because it’s not about what we do... it’s about WHY we do the things we do. Our religion can be an idol as quickly as anything else in this life.

God wants faithfulness that stems from a renewed heart...

As Calvin wrote, “God values no worship except that which proceeds from a sincere... heart.”

Our Lesson tells us that God desires “acknowledgment” (knowledge, recognition, respect: a good biblical word would be “fear”)... “rather than burnt offerings.” This is not a dismissal of doctrine (or worship)—far from it. In Scripture, “knowledge” refers to relational understanding that is intimate, NOT mere awareness, nor simple cognitive acceptance. It’s not just, “going thru the motions.”

Israel knew about God, but they did not know Him... they didn’t understanding his character... their hearts had failed to reflect His mercy, His holiness... and therefore, they failed to worship rightly.

The demons do this... (James 2:19)... the demons “believe” in God... and they tremble, they shudder before His Sovereignty. They, however, fail to reflect His character.

Of course, a redeeming (saving) knowledge of God is based on His covenant of grace. To know God is to be transformed. Knowledge, fruitful knowledge of our Redeemer produces a life that reflects His will and ways...

In fact, I would argue that, an understanding of God that never produces humility, repentance, and mercy is not biblical... it’s a facade... it’s a smoke screen.

Jesus Himself quotes Hosea 6:6 twice (Matthew 9:13; 12:7), as He confronted religious leaders who knew Scripture but lacked mercy. Jesus said, “go and learn what this means; ‘I desire mercy; not sacrifice.” For if you only knew what these words meant... you would know the proper relationship between knowing the “letter of the Law” and keeping the Spirit of the Law.

Christ, and Christ alone, fulfills the law we could never keep. His obedience and righteousness is imputed to us.

His mercy reshapes our hearts by grace.

We don’t become merciful in order to be redeemed; we become merciful because we are redeemed.

Of course, those who truly know, and rightfully worship God:

Love mercy because they have received mercy.

They walk humbly because they’ve received grace, upon grace... and that grace destroys arrogance.

They worship sincerely... because they know that it’s only because of Christ’s imputed righteousness that we can stand before God at all.

What Does God Want From us?

He doesn’t want a performance.

He couldn’t care less about our résumé.

And our supposed righteous sacrifices amount to “filthy rags” before His perfection (Isaiah 64:6). God wants none of it!

God desires hearts that are so captured by His grace, lives so transformed by His mercy, that we seek to know more and more and more of Him! Not as an idea, but as our Redeemer and King.

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

May the Lord help us to see that it’s not the sacrifice of our hands, but the surrender of our hearts... that makes us alive by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. Amen.