In Whom Does the Lord Delight? (1)

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In Whom Does the Lord Delight? (1)

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: Psalm 18:19


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In our text, we find a psalm of David. We know a little about the background of this psalm because it is also recorded in 2 Samuel 22:20. It is written toward the latter part of his reign after he has experienced victory again against the Philistines.  Based on the superscription of this psalm, it seems that David is reflecting on his life and attributes his present condition to the hand of YHWH.  In our text we find that he has been established (“brought me out into a broad place”) because “He delighted in me.”

Today I would like to address the one that God delights in.  This is based upon some lessons I recently heard encouraging men to strive to be the type of men that are pleasing to God.  I have modified the lessons to apply to all who are seeking true fellowship with God.

 

  1. Defining the Delight of God.
    1. The Hebrew word in our text is a word that means, “be mindful of, attentive to, keep, protect” (BDB). Strong’s describes it as “to incline to… to bend”.  This is dealing with direction toward which one focuses.
    2. The word is about one or something in whom one takes pleasure or is pleased. In our text, this is a reference to God and that is our focus.
    3. For example:
      1. Psalm 147:10-11, He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.
      2. 1 Kings 10:9 – as the queen of Sheba visits with Solomon and sees his wisdom and prosperity she says, Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
      3. 1 Samuel 15:22 – as Samuel confronts king Saul for failing to completely obey God in destroying the Amalekites. He said, So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
      4. Isaiah 62:4 – as Isaiah prophesies about the future hope of Jerusalem (including the acceptance of Gentiles (62:1-2) he says, You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married. The term, Hephzibah means “My delight is in her” – this is a reference to His church.
    4. That God delights in us ought to be our goal.
      1. 2 Corinthians 5:8-9 – we make it our aim to be well pleasing to Him.
      2. Colossians 1:10 – we seek to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him and fruitful in every good work.
      3. Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
      4. Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.
  2. Examples of men in whom the LORD delighted
    1. David – 2 Samuel 22:20 – he is the object of our text. What caused God to delight in David?  It certainly was not a sinless life.  But recall why David was chosen to be king.  Acts 13:22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’  (1 Samuel 13:14).  We see in the life of David many qualities worthy of emulating – humility, gratitude, faith, faithfulness, submission to God, praising God often, etc.
    2. Enoch – Genesis 5:24 – he walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Hebrews 11:5 speaks of him saying, By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased
    3. Job – Job 1:8 – Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” We find in Job a man who even with everything he endured, he NEVER denied God.  Even losing everything, he is faithful to God (cf. Job 2:3 – “he holds fast to his integrity”.
    4. Abraham – known for his faith, there are so many events in his life that demonstrate why God delighted in him. At the very outset, Genesis 12:1-4 when he was told to go to Canaan, he went.  Hebrews 11:8 tells us he went not knowing where he was going – he had total trust in God, leaving a land that was known for its idolatry (Ur of the Chaldeans).  WE see in Abraham a man who waited patiently, worshipped God, and trusted Him even to the point of being wiling to sacrifice his own son Isaac if that is what the LORD asked. Genesis 22 records Abraham listening to the LORD and how He responded to Abraham – Genesis 22:12-19.  James 2:23 describing his obedient faith said, And he was called the friend of God ( Isaiah 41:8).
    5. Moses – he had a unique relationship with YHWH. Numbers 12:6-8 notes as he is challenged by Aaron and Miriam, Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”  Again, he has flaws, but we see so many qualities in him that were pleasing to God.
    6. Daniel – Daniel was a servant of God taken captive as Judah/Jerusalem fell to Babylon. In the book of Daniel we find one who loved the LORD and remained faithful to Him.  He refused to defile himself with unlawful delicacies, he prophesied both good and bad boldly, and he prayed to God often and held to his integrity even as he faced persecution (the lion’s den – Daniel 6).  The latter half of Daniel records some prophecies of future events.  But I want to notice Danile 9:23 – as the end of Judah’s 70 year captivity approaches, he prays, fasts, confesses sins and speaks (9:2-4ff, 20) we find that the anger Gabriel comes to him and he has a series of visions.  Not how he is described: At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved… .  He is described this way 3 times (9:23, 10:11 & 19).  Because of the way he lived, Daniel was greatly loved by God.
    7. Jesus – our perfect example. Matthew 3:17 as He began His work, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  Everything about Jesus shows how the Father delighted in Him.  3 times we have recorded the voice of God from heaven – Matthew 17:5, John 12:28.
  3. There are promises made for those who delight in Him
    1. Numbers 14:8 – If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ This is Joshua and Caleb speaking to Israel after the spies return from the land the first time.  They noted that if God is pleased with us He can and will accomplish His will and give us what He has promised.
    2. 2 Samuel 22:17-20 – “He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me; For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.  David looks back as his life and he sees the providential care that the LORD had shown to him.  Protected from lion and bear, ONE stone takes down a giant, preserved while in enemy territory, numerous victories in the land, protection over and over, etc.  David saw clear blessing because he KNEW the LORD and was faithful to Him (not perfect, but faithful).
    3. Genesis 39:21 – Joseph in Egypt. The LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him  favor with the prison keeper.
    4. Nehemiah 2:8 – as Nehemiah prepares to travel to Jerusalem for an extended stay and to work, the king Artaxerxes shows him mercy and grants his requests, including passage through lands and needed supplies to rebuild the city. Why? “And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.”
    5. IF God delights in us – 1 Peter 2:9 notes, But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Because we are His people, He can use us. He can give us what we need and guide us through this life – providentially (God working through natural ways).  He can deliver us from temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13), open doors for us (Colossians 4:2-4), bless us with our needs (Matthew 6:33), hear and answer our prayers (1 John 5:14-15, 1 Peter 3:12), help us to increase in our faith and knowledge (James 1:5), draw us closer to Him (James 4:8), etc.

We have seen in this lesson that God’s delight in us is important.  He delights in those who honor Him with their heart and conduct.  In another lesson, we want to notice the qualities that bring Him delight.

Meanwhile let us understand that if we do not obey the gospel and remain faithful to Him, He will NOT delight in us.  And when we stand before Him in judgment, that will have eternal consequences.

So as you look at your life, is God delighting in you?  If so, keep the course.  If not, how can we help you?  Think about it!

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