Verse of the Day Devotion: Psalm 149:4 

“For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.” – Psalm 149:4         

This is a psalm that should bring us great encouragement and rejoicing.  We read here that God takes pleasure in His people.  As Christians, we are His people and therefore we can infer that God takes great pleasure in us 

This is a beautiful thought because this tells us that not only do we take pleasure in Him, but He takes pleasure in us.  He enjoys fellowship with us as we with Him.  We sometimes forget this concept thinking only of how we enjoy His presence.  However, this verse tells us that He also enjoys being with us as well.  He loves us. He showers on us His blessings and favor.  And in Him doing this, our hearts are filled with gladness.  He delights in us doing well.  “Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, “The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.” Psalm 35:22.  He delights to make us prosperous and happy.  He wants to make us content, and He does this by meeting our needs.  “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19  God loves doing good to is.

However, my greatest thing God has done to show His delight in us is the salvation He provided through His Son.  Look at the second part of this verse.  “He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.”  Psalm 149:4b. The word rendered beautify means to adorn, to honor.  It basically means the salvation He provides would be like an ornament, as if we are clothed with splendid and costly clothing, beyond anything we could ever imagine.  The ‘afflicted ones’ refer to the humble in means and/or in heart. Those who humble themselves in God’s presence and does the work He has called them to do.  These will be afflicted either by men or the enemy, however, the affliction will end at the time of His coming.

However, those whom He adorns will be with Him forever without end.  He loves us and delights in us so much that He will make it such that He will always be with us.  We need to see this idea both ways.  We will be with Him for eternity, and He will be with us for eternity.  He loves us and takes great pleasure in creating a new home for us.  “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.”  Revelation 21:1. 

Next is a verse I find intriguing.  “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,” Revelation 21:3.  Note the wording used twice in this verse, He will be among us and He will Dwell among us.  Again, just as Christ came down to us and saved us, He will come to us in the new heaven and earth and dwell with us.  He delights in being with us and fellowshipping with us that He comes to be with us in our new dwelling place for all eternity.  He creates our new home and then abides with us there.  This is how much He loves us.    

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.