2 SAMUEL 22:17-20 “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
Before we move into today’s nugget, please go back to the scripture and read the last four words. Maybe even aloud. Do we believe it? Really? Okay. We do. How about when we failed for the umpteenth time to the same temptation leaving us defeated by sin, feeling distant from God (we aren’t from His perspective), and hearing the whispers of the accuser, Satan, seeking to have us doubt God’s love in forgiving and restoring us again.
We live in a world with people basing their identities and self-esteem (not a Biblical concept so don’t buy into it) on performance, conduct, and achievements. And this extends into relationships. For instance, too often they are based on conditions of behavior. Don’t measure up, and it is over. Sadly, even the most sacred of institutions, marriage, falls into more of an agreed upon contract of conditions instead of an unwavering commitment to vows and a covenant relationship. Fail to meet the conditions and the marriage dissolves. We “fall out of love” whatever that means, and simply no longer delight in the other person in the relationship. Aren’t we glad our relationship with the Lord isn’t like our fragile, human relationships?
In today’s scripture, we find our God doing a lot of things in the lives of His children. He draws them out of the waters of deep and trying circumstances. He rescues us from our enemies, particularly, the spiritual ones of the devil, world, and self. He leads us into places of comfort. And why does He do all these wonderful acts of love? Not because we are good, we are not. Not because we are worthy, we are not. Not because we earned such favor, we cannot. And not because God owes such love to us, He doesn’t. God does all He does in loving His children because He delights in us. Yes, He does because He choose to do so.
Oh, He who names every star, who numbers the grains of sand on the shores of the oceans, and controls every detail in His created world, declares He loves us with an everlasting love, a steadfast love, a pure love, an unchanging love, and an unconditional love. How can we not be lost in constant praise and adoration for our God who is love and abundantly showers us with its daily displays? All because He delights in us! May we respond with great and growing delight in Him!
PRAYER: “Father, I am amazed You would take delight in me when I see so many faults and wanderings from You.”
QUOTE: “God’s delight in His children is not based on us but on His own willingness to do so. Nothing is ever about us.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim