We don’t have to look very far in the Scriptures to see that God’s people considered His Presence and company to be the greatest pleasure they could know. Today’s excerpt from The Kingdom Turn is from pages 136 and 137:
“Let’s consider three verses [from Psalm 149]:
“Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints.
Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
“Here is a picture of pure, holy, jubilant celebration, involving singing, dancing, playing instruments, and having a pure and perfectly great time among many others who have made the Kingdom turn. We should ask: Why are these people so happy? What’s bringing them such pleasure? Such sheer and holy joy?
“The answer is in two brief prepositional phrases: ‘in their Maker’ and ‘in their King.’ And verse 5 adds, ‘in glory.’ Why are these people so happy? Simple: They have entered into the presence of the Lord and His glory, and they are filled with the pleasure that comes from partaking of and participating in Him. And as they enter into His pleasure, they know Him, ‘in the assembly of the saints’ (v. 1), ‘pleasuring’ in them.
“The pleasure Israel experienced in worshiping the Lord is nothing other than their participating in Him and the pleasure He takes in Himself. God ‘pleasures’ in His people, in the pleasure of their company as they enter into the pure and perfect pleasure He knows within Himself.”
Questions for reflection or discussion
1. How do you express the joy and pleasure you experience in the Lord’s Presence?
2. What are some things that can keep us from knowing this pleasure?
We were made for God—to know, love, and serve Him. This is where we find our greatest joy in life, because God meets us with His Presence and pleasure and draws us into Himself. Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to discuss it. Your copy of The Kingdom Turn is waiting in The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
