“The LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation.” Psalm 149:4
Lord Jesus, darkness wasn’t the only thing falling as I finished my walk last evening. Plenteous tears of gratitude and worship also fell. I was listening to a live recording of one of my all-time favorite singer-songwriters, Bob Bennett.
It’d been many years since the last time I heard Bob’s arrangement of Psalm 149. And since the Book of Psalms, like all of Scripture, directs our hearts to you (Luke 24:44), it didn’t take long for my heart-water to flow.
That you love us is one thing, Jesus. But that you actually take pleasure in us… that reaches into the deepest place of our hearts—the soul-region of our oldest longings and most unrelenting ache. We believe you. Help our unbelief. You don’t just love your people. You take please in us.
We spend so much time and energy trying to fill up the relentless inner-vacuum we carry, fumbling around with a You-shaped intimacy-quest, wrongly assuming some human somewhere will be enough. Jesus, indeed, thank you for our healthiest, kindness, most endearing people relationships. But they are pointers to you, not replacements of you.
It’s You we want, more than anything or anyone else. Keep us restless till we rest in you again. In the upcoming season of Advent, beautify us anew, Jesus, with by your grace. Already robed in the wedding-garment of your righteousness, grant us the meekness, humility, softness, and gentleness of those you call “my beloved Bride.” So very, Amen.