God's Pleasure (Psalm 147.10-11)
{This is what I presented to the Capitol Forum, a Bible Study fellowship that meets every Wednesday at the Oklahoma State Capitol}
God’s Pleasure
“His delight is not in the strength of the
horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in
those who hope in his steadfast love”
(Psalm
147.10-11).
20 verses. 20 groups of
parallel statements describing, declaring, announcing and affirming that in all
of earth’s story, throughout all of your life’s tale, God is the Hero! And
then, smack-dab in the middle of this Psalm come two verses about God’s
displeasure and God’s pleasure. Hebrew: chaphetz – delight; ratzach
– pleasure!
No Pleasure (v.10): The “strength
of the horse” and the “legs of a man”
probably have most to do with war machinery, powerful soldering, the martial
arts, or battle prowess. God has no delight (chaphetz) in what arouses
our admiration; he has no pleasure (ratzach) in what arrests our
attention; the things that swell us to fist-pumps and shouts.
We’re impressed with
stamina, strength, speed and success. We’re awed by quarterbacks who break out
and make touchdowns; full backs who plow through mounds of musty muscle to
force their way to the goal. We’re enthralled by men who manufacture large
churches and pile up fortune and fame. And part of the good news here is –
thank God! He hain’t impressed and he hain’t wowed!
Takes Pleasure (v.11): The rest of the good news comes out here. Instead of
being pleased with strength and supremacy and rather than being delighted in
brawny bulges and biceps, God is pleased (ratzach) with those who are awed by
him; by those who are wowed by his holiness and enraptured with persistent
love! And therefore, he has pleasure in those who – in that awe and wow – trust
in him; those who trust that he is the hero of their story; that he is the hero
of their ministry; that he is the hero of their life; that he is the hero of
their career; that he is the hero of their family! That neither Ironman, Ant
Man nor the Hulk have anything on him!
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our
hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the
surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way,
but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death
of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For
we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the
life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians
4.6-11).
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who
commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (2
Corinthians 10.17-18).
And finally, from an 8th
Century Christian hymn:
O Christ, our hope, our heart's
desire, redemption's only spring,
Creator of the world art thou, its Savior and its King.
Creator of the world art thou, its Savior and its King.
How vast the mercy and the love which
laid our sins on thee,
and led thee to a cruel death to set thy people free.
and led thee to a cruel death to set thy people free.
But now the bands of death are burst,
the ransom has been paid;
and thou art on thy Father's throne, in glorious robes arrayed.
and thou art on thy Father's throne, in glorious robes arrayed.
O Christ, be thou our lasting joy,
our ever great reward;
our only glory may it be to glory in the Lord!
our only glory may it be to glory in the Lord!
(http://www.hymnary.org/text/o_christ_our_hope_our_hearts_desire)
“His delight is not in the strength of the
horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in
those who hope in his steadfast love”
(Psalm
147.10-11).
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