I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. (Isaiah 61:10, NIV)
As a golfer, I can think of any number of things that make me happy. Birdies are certainly high on the list. But so is a well-designed hole, a few quiet hours away from the phone, and conversation with those who join me. What pleasure we find in our game!
But I cannot say that I could borrow from Isaiah and say: “I delight greatly in golf.” There are too many episodes that rob the fullness of joy from me—here it is double bogeys that top the list, for they so quickly kill a score and my good attitude.
So I am blessed to find in the Lord the very things that nothing on earth can give me, the things that allow me to say of him: “I delight greatly in you!”
Look at Isaiah’s list from chapter 61:
– “He has clothed me with the garments of salvation…” Perhaps it never occurred to you that there is a noticeable aspect to this salvation that is ours. From rags to richness, that’s where we’ve come by the hand of the Lord tendered at the cross. God sees on us “wedding clothes,” the fashion of those who belong to him (Matthew 22:11-14).
– “…and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness…” Even I, knowing full well the constancy of my sin, am allowed to be dressed by the king as an heir, a prince alongside Christ. How can this be? I don’t have every answer, but I know there is no downside, so I delight in his righteousness granted to me!
– “…as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest…” A Jewish wedding is regarded as a private Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), when the couple’s sins are cleansed ahead of their marriage. According to Isaiah, on the day of his wedding, the Jewish groom of old would wear a garb not typically his own. He would dress his head as a priest, likely because he was in that hour an intercessor, presenting his bride to the Lord. Now we have been made a kingdom of priests, all capable of standing before the Father in the grace of the Son. Oh, I delight in being able to access the throne of grace, through the veil, which is Jesus’ body (Hebrews 10:19-22)!
– “…and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.” In his Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus spoke of the eagerness of those who truly await his return. This is an angst born of the delight in the sure promise of the great Promise Keeper. For Christ, I will do anything to beautify myself, to show him how pleased I am that he has called my name and is returning for me!
I hope you are like me today, one whose soul rejoices. I hope you are one whose soul tells you clearly: Place your joy today in the joy that is everlasting!
—
Jeff Hopper
November 7, 2012
Copyright 2012 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.