How heart-cheering to the believer is the delight which God
has in His saints! We cannot see any reason in ourselves why
the Lord should take pleasure in us; we cannot take delight in
ourselves, for we often have to groan, being burdened;
conscious of our sinfulness, and deploring our unfaithfulness;
and we fear that God's people cannot take much delight in us,
for they must perceive so much of our imperfections and our
follies, that they may rather lament our infirmities than
admire our graces. But we love to dwell upon this
transcendent truth, this glorious mystery: that as the
bridegroom rejoice to over the bride, so does the Lord rejoice
over us. We do not read anywhere that God delighteth in the
cloud-capped mountains, or the sparkling stars, but we do
read that He delighteth in the habitable parts of the earth,
and that His delights are with the sons of men. We do not find
say, concerning cherubim and seraphim, Thou shalt be called
Hephzibah, for the Lord delighteth in thee; but He does say
all that to poor fallen creatures like ourselves, debased and
depraved by sin, but saved, exalted, and glorified by His grace.
In what strong language He expresses His delight in His
people! Who could have conceived of the eternal One as
bursting forth into a song? Yet it is written, He will rejoice
over thee with joy, He will rest in His love, He will joy over
thee with singing. As He looked upon the world He had
made, He said, & It is very good; but when He beheld those
who are the purchase of Jesus' blood, His own chosen ones, it
seemed as if the great heart of the Infinite could restrain itself
no longer, but overflowed in divine exclamations of joy.
Should not we utter our grateful response to such a
marvelous declaration of His love, and sing, I will rejoice in
the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation?
Comments