Proverbs 15:8

Read Proverbs 15:8  Today, when we do something naughty we pray to the Lord to get forgiveness.  But back during the Old Testament times the Israelites had to go to the Temple in Jerusalem and offer a sacrifice to get forgiveness for their sins.  Wealthy people like Solomon would offer a large animal like a bullock as a sacrifice.  Most people offered a lamb.  Poor people could even offer just a dove.  God made it so that everyone could afford to get forgiven of their sins.  But all of these were to get forgiveness for sins after they did them.  Someone who was wicked might think, "I am going to steal this gold and silver, so I'll just offer a little dove to God and get forgiven of my sin."  But, God doesn't work that way.  God knows the heart.  He knows what the wicked man is thinking.  God knows that the wicked man isn't really sorry for his stealing - he is just doing what God said to do without being sorry for what he has done.  Our verse says that God is smarter than that.  When the wicked man tries to trick God with a sacrifice, God doesn't fall for his trick.  Our verse says that God is disgusted with the wicked man's sacrifice.  But when someone is really sorry for his sin and prays to God, well God loves that prayer.  Our verse says that God delights in the good man's prayer.  The word delight is a great word and means that God really, really, really loves to hear that prayer.  When the girl at McDonald's gives you a really extra large ice cream cone, you are delighted.  When you pray to your Father up in heaven and confess your sins, He is delighted.  Isn't it good to make God happy!