"Divine Delight"
When an infinite, eternal Being delights in something, how powerful and filled with joy are His emotional sensibilities? Our finite and temporal frame of reference does not allow us to know.
"The Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them" (Deuteronomy 10:15).
"Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and in sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?" (I Samuel 15:22).
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; He delighteth in his way" (Psalm 37:23).
"They that deal truly are His delight" (Proverbs 12:22).
"The prayer of the upright is His delight" (Proverbs 15:22).
"Behold My Servant whom I uphold, Mine elect in whom My soul delighteth" (Isaiah 42:1).
"I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD: (Jeremiah 9:24).
"He delighteth in mercy" (Micah 7:18).
"Delight" is a powerful word, reserved for that which brings profound pleasure to our human sensibilities. The word denotes even more emotion when it refers to God. Much more. Thus, when we read that our Heavenly Father delights in the Lord Jesus Christ, "Mine elect in whom My soul delighteth," we know that our hearts and minds cannot begin to fathom the wonder of devotion in the Father for His Son. Amazingly, however, Scripture also declares the wonder of God's delight in us. He rejoices in those who trust Him through Christ, and in our obedience, way, steps, faithfulness, and prayers. He also "delighteth in mercy," that is, He loves to forgive and to "not... reward us according to our iniquity" (Psalm 103:10). All of these delights and more exist in an emotional measure in God that would instantly drive us mad if we fully felt them for even an instant. Thus, we accept the truth by faith, which drives us to our knees and faces in glad wonder. "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy. He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).
God is the most emotional being who exists. Thankfully, His feelings perfectly align with His character. Thus, unlike ourselves, His emotions do not lead Him astray from the perfection of His way. We must view Him accordingly in order to know and respond to Him rightly. Thus, the Bible speaks of delight in God, a glory that even eternity will not fully unveil to our hearts. This moment bears witness, however, and we do well to join the Psalmist in joyful approach to a joyful Lord…
"Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy. Yea, upon the harp will I praise Thee, o God my God."
(Psalm 43:4)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any tribulation by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
(II Corinthians 1:3-4)
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