Delight Yourself in the Lord

Jeremiah 9:23-24

"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. for in these I delight," says the LORD.”

As I read through the book of Jeremiah, I see many parallels to our nation today. Israel in their prosperity had become self-sufficient and self-centered. Even though many still worshiped God, their hearts were far from Him, and they placed their confidence in what they created with their hands. So God was about to strip them of everything they had and send them into captivity.

In the above portion God exhorts them to make a shift in their confidence from their wisdom, might, and riches to the place that they would understand and know Him. Notice the word “that.” The ability and capacity to understand and know God can only come as we abandon our confidence in our wisdom, might, and riches. In doing so we begin to delight in what the Lord delights in, and that is lovingkindness or unfailing love and devotion to Him and to those who are around us. God is not “turned on” by our wisdom, might and riches. God is “turned on” to unfailing love, justice, and righteousness (right standing or right relationship) with Him and others.  

A shift in our confidence is demonstrated by a shift in our speech. Malachi 3:16-18 says, “Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

We are going to see a growing distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. The distinction will begin in our speech. What do we talk about when we are with family, friends, and co-workers? God actually keeps a book of remembrance when we talk about things that delight Him, that turn Him on and make His day. “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” (Psalms 37:4-6)

Andy Clark