THE LORD’S DELIGHT IN HIS PEOPLE
The Bible tells us that the Lord takes delight in His people. Let us look at three verses in the Old Testament that reflect this truth:
1. “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy” (Ps 147: 11)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps 9: 10). This fear of the Lord is not slavish fear which causes us to cower and cringe before Him. On the contrary, it is a fear borne out of our love for God. It is like the fear of a tender child who would not on any account grieve a kind and loving parent. Such a fear makes us cautious and watchful lest we grieve the Lord God Whom we love. This fear keeps us from sin.
Happy is the man who, in fearing God, maintains a tender conscience, a humble disposition and a godly life. With such a one, God is well pleased.
Moreover, the Psalmist tells us that the Lord is pleased when we look to His merciful hand. God, in His mercy, receives sinners, restores the wayward and keeps us in the path of righteousness. Our gracious Heavenly Father is ever mindful of His children. Even in His chidings, He remembers that we are but dust; He knows our frail frame; in wrath, He remembers mercy (Ps 103: 13-14).
“They fear, for they are sinners; they hope; for God is merciful. They fear Him, for He is great; they hope in Him, for He is good. Their fear sobers their hope; their hope brightens their fear: God takes pleasure in them both in their trembling and in their rejoicing” (The Treasury of David).
2. “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight” (Prov 15: 8)
God is pleased when His children draw nigh to Him with a pure heart – a heart that is humble, faithful and true to the Lord.
Would a father turn a deaf ear to the cry of His child? The answer is obvious. The Lord pitieth us who are His children. He is always within call. His ear is never heavy that it cannot hear; His arm is not too short that it cannot save. Even the weakest cry will be heard before the throne of grace. May we come before our Lord with an upright heart.
1. “A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight” (Prov 11: 1)
As “the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD” (Prov 15: 8), so is a “false balance” (Prov 11: 1). A “false balance” includes all manner of unjust and fraudulent practices. Men may make light of such fraud, and think there is no sin as long as it is not found out. But how will we answer before the omniscient God one day? “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jer 17: 10).
Our God Himself is just, and demands that His children deal fairly and honestly: “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright” (Ps 11: 7). The Lord delights in those who deal in integrity.
“Is it not a solemn thought, that the eye of God marks all our common dealings of life, either as an abomination or a delight?” (Charles Bridges). As God’s people, let us be true to Him Who seest all things. May we seek to deal fairly, sincerely and truthfully with our fellowmen.
- Pastor