“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3).
In the final analysis, it is far better to prevent sin by obeying God than remedying it because of disobedience. God’s prophets from Samuel to Micah echo this proverb of Solomon. Consider:
Samuel: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22).
Hosea: “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (6:6).
Amos: “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream” (5:21-24).
Micah: “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (6:6-8).
God delights in mercy (Mic. 7:18), and He will abundantly pardon the wicked and unrighteous when they repent (Is. 55:7). But, once you have been reconciled, the best course of action is to walk in the light so that you do not sin (1 John 1:7, 2:1). That is the best life. This is better than sacrifices.
