OBJECTS OF THE DIVINE DELIGHT

PSALMS 149:4

A. "FOR THE LORD TAKETH PLEASURE IN HIS PEOPLE."
  1. What an inspiration comes to our hearts when we read in the Bible about the great affections of God for His children:
    1. They are the apple of His eye - Deut. 32:10; Ps. 17:8
    2. A peculiar treasure - Mal. 3:17
    3. A royal priesthood - 1 Pet. 2:9
    4. The portion of God's inheritance - Ps. 119:57
  2. They are, as our opening text states, His great delight:
B. LET US CONSIDER THESE TRUTHS
  1. The Saints are God's people:
    1. He created them for His pleasure - Isa. 43:7; Rev. 4:11
    2. He redeemed them for His glory - Eph. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:9, 10
    3. They bear His name - Rev. 22:4
    4. They bear His image - Gen. 1:26, 27; Rom. 8:29
    5. They possess the Lord's Spirit - Rom. 8:12-16; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20
  2. The Lord delights in them:
    1. "The Lord taketh pleasure in his people" - Ps. 147:11 EXAMPLES -
      1. Daniel - Dan. 10:11
      2. Abraham - 2 Chron. 20:7
      3. Job - Job 1:1-3
    2. He does so in their person.
    3. Their bodies are His dwelling place - 2 Cor. 6:16; 1 Cor. 6:19
    4. He takes pleasure in their health, in their success, and in their spiritual growth.
    5. He shares with them their joys and also their griefs - Isa. 53:4
    6. They are indeed the delight of His soul.
C. WHAT GOD KNOWS AND SEES IN HIS CHILDREN THAT GIVES HIM SUCH AFFECTIONATE DELIGHT
  1. Negatively:
    1. Not because of their sins.
    2. They grieve him and cause him much work and weariness - Isa. 43:24; 47:13
    3. Not when they go through suffering and pain - Isa. 63:9
    4. Not in the death of His children - John 11:35
  2. Positively:
    1. In their redemption from sin - Luke 15:6, 9, 23
    2. In their loyalty to His will - Gen. 18:17-19
    3. In their eagerness to witness of the great wonderful works of God - Acts 7:55
    4. In their childlike trust in His mercy - Ps. 91:14
  3. This raises a number of challenging questions for each of us to ponder:
    1. Am I so closely connected with the Lord to know that He delights in me?
    2. What can I conscientiously point to in my life that would cause delight to my heavenly Father?
    3. Do I take delight in Him, His Word, His people, and His Cause?
  4. May I close this outline with this humble prayer offered by David on a number of occasions: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." - Ps. 139:23, 24


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