In Christ, the Enemy’s Taunts are Subdued
9/1 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 25; 1 Corinthians 6; Ezekiel 4; Psalms 40-41
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9/1 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 25; 1 Corinthians 6; Ezekiel 4; Psalms 40-41
Psalm 41:11
By this I know that You delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
DELIGHT
David wrote of very real troubles when he penned this psalm. His son, Absalom, had usurped the king’s throne, and David’s close friend and counselor, Ahithophel, betrayed him (Psa 41:9). While the ninth verse prophetically foreshadows our Lord Jesus Christ’s betrayal by Judas Iscariot, today’s verse also prophetically speaks of our Lord’s understanding of His heavenly Father’s love and delight. Jesus heard these words from heaven during His baptism at the River Jordan, as well as on the mount when He was transfigured before His disciples: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The Lord Jesus, however, was constantly aware of the Father’s delight in Him. Because of the corruptions of our mortal flesh, the Father’s delight in you and me is sometimes elusive— not because of the Father, but because of us. When we consider that there was nothing good in us to stir the heart of God to save us in the first place; that we were weak, ungodly sinners, who were enemies of God before He saved us by His grace through Christ (Rom 5:6-8), it is often difficult to fathom God’s delight in us. Nevertheless, the heavenly Father delights in us because of Christ. He sees Christ’s imputed righteousness upon us. Because of Jesus, the Father loves us with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3). When we fail, He sees Christ’s precious blood. When we stumble and fall, He sees Christ’s perfect life. When we sin, He sees Christ’s atoning sacrifice. In the midst of tribulation and difficulty, like David endured during his exile from Jerusalem, God’s delight in us will close our spiritual ears to the taunts of the enemy; and Satan’s wiles will not triumph because each time we fail, fall, and sin, we have a Savior we can confess to in humble contrition and repentance, and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9). Hallelujah! What a delight-full Savior!
But this I know, without a doubt,
That God delights in me:
Christ paid it all; the en’my’s shout
Has lost at Calv’ry’s tree!