THE PLEASURE OF THE LORD.
There is a difference between the "will of the Lord" and the "pleasure of the Lord." He may permit a thing, and yet take no pleasure therein. We ought to be exceedingly interested in whatever our Lord takes pleasure in; and if He has no pleasure in a thing neither should His people. We shall notice the pleasure of the Lord-
I. In Regard to the Wicked. "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked" (Eze_33:11). That the wicked will die is certain if they repent not; but that God has no pleasure in their death is just as certain. Then why will they die? Because they choose death rather than life. By preferring the pleasures of sin they incur its wages. No sinner will find pleasure in hating God because God hates him. The knell of the sinner’s doom affords no pleasure to the Lord.
II. With Regard to Christ. Here we see the pleasure of the Lord in a threefold aspect-
1. In the Person of Christ. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Mat_3:17). Here we have the Lamb that was to take away the sin of the world brought before the holy eye of God for examination. Not only is He without spot and blemish, but with all that He did God was well pleased. There seems to be more here than bare satisfaction. There is a filling of the heart of God with pleasure.
2. In the Sufferings of Christ. "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him…. And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His (Christ’s) hand" (Isa_53:10). In bruising Him (His beloved Son) He was bruised Himself. It is the pleasure of the Lord to bruise Him instead of us, to save man through Him, and this pleasure shall prosper in the hand of the bruised One. "He is able to save to the uttermost" (Heb_7:25).
3. In the Mediation of Christ. "It pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell" (Col_1:19). He is the Mediator between God and men, and the Father hath pleasure in committing all into His hands, that we might receive of His fulness, and be filled with all the fulness of God.
III. With Regard to His Word. "My Word shall accomplish that which I please" (Isa_55:11). His Word went forth over the void creation in the beginning, and turned emptiness into fruitfulness. He says it shall not, even now, return unto Me void. We cannot tell what His Word is accomplishing when it is spoken, but we are assured that it will accomplish that which is pleasing unto God.
IV. With Regard to a Preached Gospel. "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1Co_1:21). So that God takes pleasure in saving them that believe through the foolishness of preaching. Not certainly through foolish preaching. There is much preaching in which God can have no pleasure, because man is lifted up and Christ hidden. Comforting thought, God is pleased to save them that believe, not them that work. So if you have nothing but faith it will please God to save you.
V. With Regard to Fitness for Service. "It pleased God to reveal His Son in me that I might preach Him" (Gal_1:15-16). What a revelation this is! Christ in us, in all His love and grace, in all His wisdom and power. When this is seen it is impossible not to preach Him. Oh, that every preacher had this revelation, then Christ would be preached. And why not have it? It pleases God to reveal Him in you. He is in you if you are His, and if you have not seen Him in you in all His fulness, to give you all your fitness, it is because sin is blinding your eyes.
VI. With Regard to the Believer’s Privilege. "The Lord will not forsake His people for His great Name’s sake, because it hath pleased the Lord to make you His people" (1Sa_12:22). We are His people because it hath pleased the Lord to make us so, and having made us His people it is His pleasure not to forsake us for His great Name’s sake. "He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear" (Heb_13:5). This is the only answer we can give as to how the Lord hath made us His people; and being His, we can count on His guidance, protection, presence, and help.
VII. With Regard to the Believer’s Prospect. "Fear not, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luk_12:32). Then it must be His good pleasure to take us there and fit us for it. "My kingdom is not of this world," said Christ (Joh_18:36). "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (Joh_16:33). The fashion of this world passeth away, tut the kingdom we are to receive "cannot be moved" (Heb_12:28). And our title to it cannot be disputed, for He hath made us kings unto God (Rev_1:6). And the promise is, "They shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev_22:5).
Autor: James Smith