“His people” refers firstly to the Jews, the biological descendants of Abraham (Genesis 17:1-8). But it also includes us who believe in Jesus. By God’s grace, we are also “descendants of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7-9, 29). In fact, by believing in Jesus, we are “sons of God” (Galatians 3:26)! This means that God takes pleasure in us too!
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. (Psalm 149:4)
How reassuring and uplifting it is to know that God takes pleasure in His people!
“His people” refers firstly to the Jews, the biological descendants of Abraham (Genesis 17:1-8). But it also includes us who believe in Jesus. By God’s grace, we are also “descendants of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7-9, 29). In fact, by believing in Jesus, we are “sons of God” (Galatians 3:26)! This means that God takes pleasure in us too!
However, the second part of Psalm 149:4 qualifies that it is “the humble” who experiences salvation, which is a demonstration of God’s pleasure. In other words, it is those among His people who trust in Him, look to Him, call on Him, and rely on Him that He takes pleasure in and favours with salvation. So if we are to be people God takes pleasure in, we must be men and women of humility, who trust in Him and call on Him and rely on Him. God takes pleasure in such believers and bestows on them the gift of salvation, including rescue and deliverance in our daily problems. The rest of the psalm describes the salvation, deliverance, and victory that God’s people experiences and imposes on the nations (Psalm 149:5-9).
The use of “For” in Psalm 149:4 suggests that God’s pleasure is the basis for the call to rejoice and praise and worship God in the preceding verses. This means that we should rejoice, praise God and worship Him because God takes pleasure in us. And because God loves us and takes pleasure in us, our joy and our praise and worship will bring joy and pleasure to His heart.
Perhaps a human analogy will help us understand this better. Have you ever had your young children run towards you squealing with delight when you got home from work? If so, how did you respond? Did you appreciate their expression of love and feel joy and delight towards them? Or were you sceptical, asking them what favours they were seeking in return for their warm reception? Or worse still, did you chide them for making too much noise? If you are like me, you would have felt joy and delight. Expressing our love for God through humble, sincere and heartfelt worship does something similar to the heart of Father God! It brings joy and delight to God’s heart and a smile to His face! Why does our worship bring Him joy? Because He loves us and regards us as His children.
Wow, can you imagine! Puny creatures, mere mortals, and sinful people like you and me have the power to bring pleasure to the heart of God by putting our trust in Him and by praising and worshipping Him. And this is the privilege and power of worship! What a great privilege!
This alone is good enough reason for us to trust God and worship Him daily, no matter what situations we face each day. Will you make trusting God and worshipping Him in all situations a lifestyle? It will bring pleasure to God! God is seeking true worshippers who worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23). So let us be true worshippers who trust God in every situation and so bring pleasure to the heart of God.
Monday: Exodus 19:5
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
Tuesday: Psalm 147:11
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Wednesday: Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
Thursday: Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Friday: Matthew 3:17
and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Saturday: Galatians 3:26
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Sunday: John 4:23
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
All scriptures are quoted from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise stated.
By Pastor Yong Tai Tong
