Focus: Divine Pleasure

Text: Ps.149:4

"The Lord taketh pleasure in his people."

The Lord takes pleasure in His people - in you! The psalmist says, "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; WE ARE HIS PEOPLE, and THE SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE" (Ps.100:3). John declares, "For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev.4:11). God created us for His pleasure. 

Isaiah declares that God created us for His glory. David tells us that God is mindful of us. Paul prays for us to know "what the riches of the glory of HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS" (Eph.1:18). We are God's inheritance. He has inherited us and delights in us. The Lord Jesus Christ says, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Lk.12:32). The psalmist says, "Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant" (Ps.35:27). God wants you to prosper. John prays for us above all things that "thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3Jh.2). God delights in us and wants to see us prosper in all things.

God is pleased with us because He is pleased with Christ.

God says about Christ, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Mt.3:17). As a servant, He says of Him, "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased…" (Mt.12:18). Again God says about Christ, "He shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand" (Isa.53:10).

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself says about His Father, "For I do always those things that please him" (Jh.8:29).

As the people of His pleasure, He wants us to please Him. The psalmist says, "Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure" (Ps.103:21). He says, "The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein" (Ps.111:2). Again he says, "The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy" (Ps.147:11). God says, "That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid" (Isa.44:28). You can take Cyrus' name out and put your own name.

God wants you to perform all His pleasure. God says to us through Haggai, "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD" (Hag.1:8). John declares, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT" (1Jh.3:22).

As we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will surely grant us the desires of our hearts. Truly, God takes pleasure in His people. He beautifies the meek with salvation. I pray that you live to pleasing God and making Him proud of you. Make the divine pleasure your number one priority!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter