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For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4
BEAUTIFIED
Let’s take a look at the second part of this verse first. The KJV says the LORD “will beautify the meek with salvation.” While it is certainly true of initial salvation in the sense that hearing the gospel will crush our pride, humble our souls, and break our self-reliance until there is nowhere else to turn but to God’s salvation in Jesus Christ; it is also, and more appropriate to be viewed as a promise unto those already saved since the first part of the verse gives us our immediate context: the LORD takes pleasure in His people. It is these humble people with whom He is pleased that He adorns, or beautifies, with salvation. When we, by God’s grace, persevere in the grace of humility with increasing submission to our merciful and sovereign Lord as we mature, our salvation is not merely a cloak of comfort and protection, it is beautiful attire, a royal robe, and a gorgeous garment of heavenly honor. From the original Hebrew, if I may be so bold as to offer my amplified translation of the second part of the verse: He beautifies by dressing the meek, lowly, and gentle soul with Jesus. Yes, the last word, salvation, is translated from the Hebrew name of Jesus, ישועה (Y’shuah). This is God’s eternal will and good pleasure— to conform us to the image and likeness of Christ (Rom 8:29). He clothes us with the beauty of Jesus Christ Himself. Why wouldn’t the LORD God take pleasure in that? If God is pleased with us because of what He has done, shouldn’t we also be insanely pleased with God for doing such a marvelous work and wonder for us, by His amazing grace and in His abounding mercy through Christ Jesus? Yes, and amen! Hallelujah! What a Savior!
God takes pleasure in His people,
To those He’s humbl’d by His grace;
And He clothes us with His gospel
And with Jesus, whom we embrace.
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
11/15 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 5-6; Hebrews 10; Amos 4; Psalm 148-149; Psalm 150
