By Benjamin H. Liles
For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. ~ Psalm 149:4, NKJV
Those who are called by God enough so to be His children, He takes great pleasure in. They are robed with righteousness. The fatted lamb (proverbially speaking) is killed for supper. Music and merriment are made in celebration of the One who gave such providence for the people of the Lord.
It is by the shed blood of Christ's grace that "My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways" (2 Chronicles 7:14, Holman Christian Standard) they are given the gift of salvation. It can be likened to God giving Jonah the command to warn the people of Nineveh of their sinful ways and their wicked deeds. If they should turn from those ways and repent the Lord will save. If not the Lord will keep the promise to turn Nineveh into a heap of rubble (see Jonah 1:2; 3:1-10).
The promise is that when we do what God commands out of a pure and
undefiled heart, in complete faith He can restore, He keeps His word in
cleansing us. Let me put it this way - Jesus gave a lovely illustration
of a son who went his own way, the parable of the Prodigal Son. All of
us are like that son. We demand of God for what's ours. We squander what
He's given us on others who don't appease or appeal to Him. We wallow,
like pigs, in the muck and mire of our selfishness and ways. But - some
of us - who are just like the son wake up in that distressing state,
realizing the wrongs we have done. We like that prodigal child say, "I'm
not worthy to be your child. Make me your servant" (see Luke 15:21).
But what does the Father do when He sees His own child from afar walking towards home? He not only rushes out in love towards the child, He takes the best He has and gives it to the one He loves. This is what the Psalmist is declaring. Those who humble themselves, who realize their error, God will give salvation to. I pray this helps in Jesus' name. Amen.
But what does the Father do when He sees His own child from afar walking towards home? He not only rushes out in love towards the child, He takes the best He has and gives it to the one He loves. This is what the Psalmist is declaring. Those who humble themselves, who realize their error, God will give salvation to. I pray this helps in Jesus' name. Amen.
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