Todays readings.. Genesis 31, Psalm 35, Matthew 20
“GREAT IS THE LORD WHO DELIGHTS IN …”
David’s Psalm 35, we read today, comes to a most interesting climax. We read, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” And what is David’s reaction to sensing the LORD’s delight in him? “Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.”[last verse]
Do we adequately express our appreciation of all the blessings we have received in our lives? Let us see the words of v.27 as a ‘picture’ of the rejoicing (our rejoicing!) in the kingdom age.
“Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” It is beyond our present vision to imagine the life of the redeemed in the kingdom: but David is inspired to visualize it – and what he – and they – will say for “evermore.”
Our thoughts now go to the response of Jesus to the mother of James and John we also read this morning. She asked Jesus, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” [Matt. 20 v.21] Jesus told her, “You do not know what you are asking.” Jesus then told her – and her two sons – “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”[v.23]
We read yesterday the promises of Jesus to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” [19 v.28]
And now our thoughts go back to David – and the wonder of being able to say for “evermore, “Great is the LORD.” When we come to David’s Psalm 84 may we ‘absorb’ his state of mind in writing – “… a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God…” [v.10] A thousand! The promise of Jesus in Revelation 20 comes to mind, of those who “will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” [v.6]
A final thought is – how wonderful to “be a doorkeeper in the house of … God” – imagine the experiences, those one would see – what delights will be experienced!
