God Delights – in Believers

God Delights – in Believers.

“The Lord takes pleasure in His people… The Lord delights in His faithful followers who reverently fear Him, who hope in His mercy.” (Psalm 149:4; 147:11).

God loves humanity generally, and every person individually. He sees His image on each individual He has created. He sees a sacred reflection of Himself in every person. There is no spiritual elite that deserve His love and grace any more than those who often seem to be spiritually forgotten. No one is forgotten in God’s perfect memory and vision. His eyes roam the world over for people to bless and love. He brings bright sunshine and abundant rain to the whole earth, not just to a selected few. Heven and earth are full of His glory, and His mercy fills the earth. (Ps. 119:64). God daily carries the burdens of mankind (Ps. 68:19). “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16).

God’s love for all of humanity is clear in the creation story as recounted in Proverbs 8:31: “From eternity past, I was set in place, before the world began. I was anointed from the beginning. I was already there when He set in place the pillars of the earth. I was there close to the Creator’s side as His master artist. Daily He was filled with delight in me as I playfully rejoiced before Him. I laughed and played, so happy with what He had made, while finding my delight in the children of men, happily celebrating the human family!” (TPT, MSG). Remember that the story here is being told by Lady Wisdom, and the early Church believed that, since Jesus was called Wisdom throughout the New Testament, this story is being told from the perspective of the preincarnate Christ at the time of creation.

But Scripture is clear… God takes special delight in those who follow Him and love Him and serve Him. God-followers are His “special treasure” (Deut. 7:6), His chosen people, and therefore have a unique destiny. Those who reject God are still loved by God, but the Lord has not included them as His “precious possession.” (Ps. 135:4). Let’s look at it this way… Good parents unconditionally love all their children, and never stop loving all of them. But they take special delight in those children who have made good decisions, who continue a family tradition of righteousness and goodness, reflecting the values of the parents. The point of the Christian family is to spread God’s light, and those people who decide to participate in that process provide a special delight to God. Parents don’t reject the family rebels, it’s just that the rebellious ones don’t give the parents quite as much to delight in.

1. “I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people.” (Is. 65:19).
2. “You shall no longer be termed “Forsaken,” nor shall your land any more be termed “Desolate.” But you shall be called “My Delight is in Her,” and your land called “Married;” for the Lord delights in you….  As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” (Is. 62:4-5).
3. “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will take delight in you with gladness. He will renew you with His love. He will dance with shouts of joy over you, as on a day of festival.” (Zeph. 3:17).
4. “Let the Lord be magnified, who takes pleasure in the well-being of His servant, who delights to see his servant in peace.” (Ps. 35:27).
5. “The Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.” (Ps. 18:19).
6. “Do not fear, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom; it gives Him great happiness to do so.” (Luke 12:32).