Sabbath Psalms - Delight in The Lord

Psalm 37:4      Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

There's a scene in the movie "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," when the boy Edmund meets the White Witch for the first time in the land of Narnia. Because it's snowing, he's absolutely freezing, so the witch casts a spell and presents him with a cup of hot chocolate. She then asks him if he would like something to eat. "Could I have some Turkish delight?" he answers. The witch casts another spell and the sweets immediately appear.

I've always been fond of Turkish delights myself. Whenever I go back to Scotland, it's one of the first things that I buy. Fry's, the equivalent of Hershey's in Britain, make the most delicious chocolate covered Turkish delight you can ever imagine. As I'm typing this message, I'm beginning to long for some.

Delight is usually used to describe something that is delicate or luxurious. Even in the Bible, in the 37th Psalm, this is what it means. The old Hebrew word for delight is "a'nag", which means something that is delicate, pliable, and soft. In this context it means to bend to God's will, to conform to His requests, and to humbly accept His commands.

As we go through some critical times, perhaps we can all decide to delight in the Lord and choose to humbly serve Him, rather than give in to fear or despair. If so, then the effects, according to scripture, will be that our petitions and requests, our prayers and desires will be given to us, as we seek to please and delight in the Lord.

Point to ponder: What does God do that makes me delighted in Him?

Prayer: Lord God, reshape our lives and take us into Your hands. Humble our souls and remold our spirits, so that we may delightfully, cheerfully, and faithfully serve You all of our days. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Midweek Message - Finding the Light

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV)

Psalm 27 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It’s written by someone who is facing difficult circumstances, but instead of being overwhelmed by his current crisis, he confidently turns to God as the source of his well-being and strength. He calls God his light and salvation which means that although the psalmist is undergoing some dark moment in his life, God will be the One who safely leads him through it. Instead of being fearful, the writer remains faithful; rather than being afraid, he is confident about his future.

Even though the psalm was written about three thousand years ago, it still offers us hope today. As we go through this uncertain time, we can look to God for guidance and confidence. Those ancient words are just as true now as they were way back then, so when we read or pray them, they become living promises for each of us, to strengthen and sustain us through this critical moment in history. This is what makes the Bible relevant in our daily lives and is why reading and reflecting on the scriptures remains meaningful. God’s Word helps us to rely on His support and be encouraged in our time of need.

So, today, dear friends, please embrace and share this thought: The Lord is our light and our salvation—whom shall we fear? The Lord is the stronghold of our lives—of whom shall we be afraid?

Point to ponder: What is really worrying me at this moment in time? Am I willing to trust God with my concerns?

Let us pray: Thank You, Lord, for preserving the ancient Hebrew psalms over the centuries. Though they were faithfully written long ago, they still speak to our present situation, offering us encouragement and hope. In Christ’s Name, we confidently pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee.