The Crazy Australian

“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
(Psalm 16:11)

What pleasures are found in God? Of course, we say ‘joy’. Rejoice in the Lord!

But the verse above says pleasures, plural. So there must be more than one, or at least more than one form. What forms does it take? Here are my thoughts…

1. Gratitude – One pleasure is gratitude to God for what he has done, is doing, and will do. Anyone who has been grateful to someone knows that this is certainly a pleasure!

2. Awe – marvelling at how amazing God is in His glory, also at God’s glory as expressed in relationship to us (His grace to us, His strength in us, His love for us). The pleasure of seeing a breathtaking sunset is similar, but a tiny reflection of the real thing.

3. Gladness – I think this is usually what is meant when the Bible tells us to rejoice. Whenever we enjoy thinking about something, when we feel good about an experience, a fond memory, a piece of news, we are glad. Our hearts are filled with gladness, a sense of “this is good, this is right, I am happy”, as we reflect on what God has done, is doing, and will do for us; and on our relationship with him.

4. Love – Nat King Cole sang, “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved in return.” We are filled with love for God.

There may be other pleasures. For example, being comforted is surely a great pleasure for someone in distress. But I think these 4 are the most powerful, most significant pleasures of knowing God.

And these pleasures lead to:

1. Satisfaction – a deep contentment, because you have God you need nothing else. (Is this a pleasure in its own right, or a result of the other pleasures?)

2. Praise – the ultimate expression and consummation of pleasure:

“ I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise… The world rings with praise – lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game – praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries, historical personages, children, flowers, mountains, rare stamps, rare beetles, even sometimes politicians of scholars. …
I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.” (C.S. Lewis)

“Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.”
(Psalm 16:9-10)

I love to read David’s rejoicing in the Lord!  But often I find it troubling.

Here, David rejoices because he knows God will protect him. But where does he get that confidence? Can I share that confidence? Surely not! Romans 8:36 says “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

So how come David is so sure of God’s protection? And how can I share in his rejoicing? I feel kind of fake…

I was thinking about this, and came up with this answer:

How can David be sure of God’s protection?
Because he is the King of God’s people, living in the land God promised that they would forever possess and prosper in.

One of the promises God made to Abraham was land, forever: “And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” (Gen 17:8) As the Israelites drive out the inhabitants of that land, and settle in, there is a sense of arriving home, fulfilment. Here, they will be established as God’s people in peaceful prosperity forever.

David, then, understands that God has promised to be their protector – otherwise there cannot be lasting peace and prosperity. So David is rejoicing in the promised salvation of the Lord!

The people broke their covenant with God, and brought on themselves the curse instead of the blessing. But through Jesus’ death, God has made a new covenant with us, promising that we will live and prosper with Him forever in His land (the real promised land, the new heavens and new earth).

The promised salvation now is deliverance of a different kind. Not the physical protection needed for peace in a physical land, but spiritual deliverance from His anger, and protection from any spiritual threat that would prevent us entering that spiritual promised land.

David did see corruption, eventually, in the sense that he eventually died. Thus the Psalm points to another Holy One, one who will not be abandoned to the grave.

Jesus was not abandoned to Sheol nor did he see corruption. He was raised from the grave, and with Him will come David and all believers.

Let us rejoice in the promised salvation of the Lord!

“Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.” (Psalm 16:9-10)