God delights in authentic worship because it reflects a devoted heart.
David, who lived from about 1010-970 BC, composed this psalm during a time of deep distress and personal turmoil. When he proclaims, “And it will please the LORD better than an ox Or a young bull with horns and hoofs” (v.31), he emphasizes that authentic devotion to God takes precedence over outward displays of religious sacrifice. In the ancient Israelite context, offering an ox or bull was a valuable practice, signifying one’s commitment and desire to pay homage to God (Leviticus 1:3-9). Yet, David’s heart-cry is that a genuine expression of thanksgiving surpasses even the grandeur of these ceremonial offerings.
The psalm highlights a crucial truth often echoed in many other parts of Scripture: God values the spirit in which something is offered more than the substance of the offering itself (1 Samuel 15:22). For David and for future believers, the call is to come before the Lord with humility, gratitude, and genuine repentance, rather than to rely solely on ritualistic acts that can be performed without any inward devotion. This teaching ultimately connects to Jesus’s emphasis on sincere worship from the heart, such as in Matthew 9:13, where He echoes the prophets by declaring that mercy—and by extension, heartfelt praise—is more pleasing to God than mere ritual offerings.
By highlighting “it will please the LORD better” (v.31), David encourages God’s people to align their hearts with their actions. Even though sacrifices were integral to worship in his day, the psalm’s overarching lesson is that true worship is a matter of spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). This message fuels our own worship today: whether we bring song, prayer, or material resources, the sincerity behind our offering remains paramount.
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Psalms 69:31 meaning
David, who lived from about 1010-970 BC, composed this psalm during a time of deep distress and personal turmoil. When he proclaims, “And it will please the LORD better than an ox Or a young bull with horns and hoofs” (v.31), he emphasizes that authentic devotion to God takes precedence over outward displays of religious sacrifice. In the ancient Israelite context, offering an ox or bull was a valuable practice, signifying one’s commitment and desire to pay homage to God (Leviticus 1:3-9). Yet, David’s heart-cry is that a genuine expression of thanksgiving surpasses even the grandeur of these ceremonial offerings.
The psalm highlights a crucial truth often echoed in many other parts of Scripture: God values the spirit in which something is offered more than the substance of the offering itself (1 Samuel 15:22). For David and for future believers, the call is to come before the Lord with humility, gratitude, and genuine repentance, rather than to rely solely on ritualistic acts that can be performed without any inward devotion. This teaching ultimately connects to Jesus’s emphasis on sincere worship from the heart, such as in Matthew 9:13, where He echoes the prophets by declaring that mercy—and by extension, heartfelt praise—is more pleasing to God than mere ritual offerings.
By highlighting “it will please the LORD better” (v.31), David encourages God’s people to align their hearts with their actions. Even though sacrifices were integral to worship in his day, the psalm’s overarching lesson is that true worship is a matter of spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). This message fuels our own worship today: whether we bring song, prayer, or material resources, the sincerity behind our offering remains paramount.