The Love of God Project

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (John 15:9-10)Dear friends of the Love of God Project,

We’re grateful for the stewardship of simple truths which are profoundly changing people’s lives and ministries. Thanks for praying for us.

Seminar in Flushing, March 12 & 13:

In three weeks we’ll be giving a seminar for the Flushing Ministers’ Fellowship. The seminar will be held at Pillars of Faith, 33-15 Parsons Blvd., Flushing, NY. Here’s the schedule:

Friday, March 12^th

Friday evening session, starting at 7:30 pm

Saturday, March 13^th

Saturday morning session starting at 9:30 am

Saturday afternoon session starting at 1:00 pm

Each session will begin with worship, and will include a time of praying and impartation. There is no registration fee. There will be an offering taken on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

If you live in the area, please come. If you have been positively impacted by this ministry and know people who live nearby, encourage them to attend.

Pray for the Flushing Seminar

We’re looking for a major advance in the release of God’s heart towards His people and the lost. Pray, pray, pray for clarity of instruction and powerful impartation to transpire in Queens, NY. This will be a multi-ethnic gathering in the heart of the most ethnically diverse community of which I know.

As our Father enables, we are continuing to release instruction that is producing faith for an impartation to “grasp” the love of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is strengthening those who are exposed to this message. By the grace of God, we are destroying arguments that militate against the knowledge of God. This is all to help establish a faith that will open the door for the King to further relate to His people. Thank you for standing with us in prayer as we watch God consistently do this time after time.

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey (the Messiah), being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

Please do pray for us “that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” (Colossians 4:4)

A d v a n c e d:

There has been a firm foundation of God’s love established in certain places we’ve ministered. We know our ministry has played a part. It is a blessing to have been a factor in what He has accomplished.

But thanks be to God, who in (Messiah) always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

All this is accomplished through faith. Please join your faith to ours in this ministry. (Hebrews 11:32-34)

Much love and appreciation for your prayers.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5b-6)

Abraham fell on his face and laughed… Sarah laughed to herself

(Genesis 17:17a; 18:12a)

Many are happy to overlook the way God has revealed Himself in the sacred histories. They prefer to view Him through inspired statements made about Him. Then they define His actions in view of those holy declarations. This is a good principle, but we should not neglect to watch carefully to see how He interacts with people that He loves. Perhaps statements about God might be seen through the revelatory record of His relationships. For example, look at Abraham and Sarah’s unbelief. First, look at Abraham:

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. “I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. (Genesis 17:15-19)

At least Abraham kept his derision to himself. He only spoke “in his heart.” God didn’t reprove him. God continued to declare His purposes for Abraham. Yet, look at Sarah. Really, this couple just goes from bad to worse…

He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah  laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ “Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:9-15)

Here’s a woman who actually laughs in disbelief at God’s promise. When she’s called on it, in fear and disbelief in God’s goodness, she lies to God’s face.

Why wasn’t Sarah turned to ashes where she stood? In the very next chapter (the inexorably severe judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah) we read of Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt for disobeying the word of an angel. Here, we have the inspired record: Lot’s wife’s Aunt Sarah secretly mocking God’s word. She laughed!

Not only did God not destroy Sarah, but He didn’t rescind His promise to her. Not only did God not respond in wrath, but Sarah didn’t disqualify herself from His purposes for her. In fact, the gentle reproof He offered did not even receive a penitent response. What did she say? “I did not laugh.” So, Sarah not only laughs at God’s word, but when convicted by the audible voice of God she doesn’t even have the reverence to humbly confess her fault. She denies, she maintains her righteousness. And this woman lived? What did God say? “No, but you did laugh.” I have been familiar with this story for years, but still can’t quite get over this.

This is as poignant and merciful an interaction as anything we read about in the New Testament.  In fact, where else in the Sacred Text do we see this type of behavior? (I’m not just writing about Sarah, but Sarah and God!)

Have you ever received a promise that you believe was from God, but now, if it is mentioned, the very sound of it brings pain? If the LORD, Himself, was to draw near to you and restate His purpose, would you bitterly laugh? Would you mock? Have you done that? If so, take heart. He is the God of Abraham, yes, but He is also the God of Sarah.

Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:5-7)

What an incredible display of the God of Sarah’s faithfulness. Before we leave this story, let’s read the way the writer of Hebrews tells this story:

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. (Hebrews 11:11)

Are you kidding? That’s the apostolic verdict? I am tempted to laugh…

By David Harwood 

Every so often we’ll post new endorsements of God’s True Love.

Here are some that we really appreciate:

In this age of lightweight, pop gospel preaching and teaching, it is refreshing to the soul to have a serious, heavyweight, Word-saturated book focused on such a critical subject. All of us need a greater revelation of God’s love, and this essential book provides a rich resource full of edifying, life-changing truth. Dr. Michael L. Brown, President, FIRE School of Ministry

I have ministered the Father’s love in sermons, prayers and seminars. I have used the books, tapes, and CDs available. Yet, I always found myself disagreeing with some of the teaching that is extant. However, when I read David Harwood’s material and then had him teach seminars on this for our network, I found the most profound, accurate and impacting presentation in the field. … Dr. Daniel C. Juster, Director of Tikkun International

David’s writings on the Love of God are both timely and valuable. His insight into God’s word and his personal passion for the Lord Jesus fuel the fire that burns in this volume. I highly recommend it.” Robin McMillan, Senior Pastor of MorningStar Fellowship Church

God’s True Love unveils the love of God in a way that can help lead the reader to transformational understandings of self, God, and others. Receptive hearts will be inspired to abide in the love of God more fully, share the unfathomable quality of the personal love of God, and see the value of the people around them with new eyes. It presents an uncompromising interpretation of God’s radically specific love for humanity. God’s True Love zeros in on the love of God in thought provoking ways that often challenge commonly accepted perspectives. This material is the perfect aid for those who desire to journey into the deeper depths, higher heights, and abounding breadth of the measureless love of God.  Elita Barnhart, MSW, MDiv

… in his book, God’s True Love, David introduces the reader to the passionate affections of God in a way that is both heartwarming and profound. David’s book is a breath of fresh air for those of us who long to live out of the tender embrace of the Father’s love. I highly recommend this book! S. J. Hill, author of Enjoying God and Burning Desire

In almost three decades of ministry, I have not come across anyone who is able so clearly and powerfully to reveal God’s love from the Scriptures as David Harwood.  …I highly recommend God’s True Love for those who want to know the Father’s love more deeply.” Carl Kinbar, Provost Messianic Jewish Theological Institute, Director of the School of Jewish Studies

(I) read your book. It was one of the best I have read this year. I love it. Harold Eberle (2009)

As an adult educator and counselor, I’ve found that many believers have an experiential understanding of God’s love but lack a solid, Bible-based theology in which to ground that experience. By presenting such a theology in a systematic and thought-provoking way, God’s True Love offers believers a firm foundation in God’s love that will withstand the floods of life -  whether everyday trials, assaults of modern culture, or pitfalls of inadequate doctrine. In this much-needed revelatory teaching, David Harwood affirms there is nothing more profound than the love of God and, compellingly, leads us toward apprehending the fullness of that love. Dr. Lynn Swaner, LMHC, NCC, ACS

… Written so the person in the pew can understand, the book could be used in the Sunday school classroom as well as small group ministry. …The book can also be a useful tool for Biblical Counseling. Too often counselees do not understand God’s love for them. This misunderstanding results in guilt and a performance orientated Christian life that has little freedom, let alone joy. Harwood’s book cuts through the confusion and points a path to a true understanding of the love relationship God has with the Christian. Austin T. Kreutz, MA, Sr. Pastor Main Street Ministries

… How often we look for the solution to some of our most difficult problems in the most complex places, and overlook the simple answer that is right before us! God’s True Love brings us back to the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ by clarifying the all encompassing nature of Gods love. David takes the time to correct the inadequate understanding we have accepted and keeps it practical, so that we can apply God’s love to ourselves and others in a life changing way. Our devotional life will also be refreshed as we move away from what has become an antiseptic definition of God’s love. God’s love encompasses every aspect of His nature and is passionately focused on redeeming a people for His own possession who will worship and enjoy Him for all eternity. I heartily recommend this book to everyone. Frank Howell, Co-Pastor, Farmingdale Christian Church

I just finished your book and all I can say is, Wow! What a great book; best one I’ve read in a long time. A word from the Lord for His people. I’m hoping it’s volume one of a three or four volume series! Pastor Charles Simpson

My friends really like it… Benjamin Harwood

Holiness and Love

Justified believers are urged to pursue holiness. We are promised that the pure in heart shall see God. (Matthew 5:8) We are warned that without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) In the hope of seeing Him as He is we are exhorted to purify ourselves as He is pure. (1 John 3:3) Our hearts’ holiness is analogous to God’s heart: we are commanded to be holy as He is holy. (1 Peter 1:16) This pursuit of holiness is really a response to the wooing of God. He is seriously courting us and looking for our commensurate, loving, consecrated commitment. (James 4:5)

Remember, our holiness doesn’t save; the blood of the incarnate Holy One saves. (Romans 5:9) Our consecration is a result of His atoning blood purifying us so we may, with open hearts, encounter God as He is. (Hebrews 1:3, 9:14) The Bible relates many instances of people who came face to Face with true holiness. Practically every occurrence of this happened to someone who was already in a relationship with God. For example, Isaiah and John were in covenant and communion with their creator before they heard heaven’s courts cry out, “Holy! Holy! Holy!” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8)

I believe there will always be increasing revelatory light which exposes the motives and works of every growing believer. Yet, for us this light has a red tinge. It is “light through the blood.” It is life giving light. (John 1:4) God desires to give a deep rooted security which absolutely rests upon the work of Calvary. (Ephesians 3:17) As this happens, He brings us into increasingly frequent, deeper, lasting encounters with His purity. Lest we shrink back, to avoid feeling “undone” and falling at His feet like a dead man (Isaiah 6:5, Revelation 1:17), we must consider that we are not saved through our response. We are saved through Calvary. (John 3:16) It is in the light of Calvary that we must bring to mind that the Messiah is going to judge every soul who ever lived.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: (2 Timothy 4:1)

Here are two pictures of this awesome Day:

A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:10)

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. (Revelation 20:12)   

One day every justified believer “will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12b) This does not have to be a threat. In 1 Corinthians Paul writes a lot about the Lord’s return and coming judgment. (3:11-15; 4:1-5; 5:5; 6:2,3; 11:26-32; 13:10; 15:24-28) Please read the following verse and find a surprising promise:

… the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5b)

Many live with fear of coming condemn-ation. How can we live in a way that we are assured of coming commend-ation? Paul was not insecure about the coming judgment. He looked forward to a “crown.” (2 Timothy 4:8) I believe Paul employed a key which opened a door to anticipatory confidence. This key is not a mystery. Look:

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10)

and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

In these prayers it is revealed that our love for others is a key to being established, “blameless in holiness.” Holiness looks like the fulfillment of the two great commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40) Lest we forget, Jesus added another:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you (John 13:34a)

In the same way we must consistently enter into the experience of God’s love for ourselves, so we should cultivate and consistently express our love for other believers. This love, fulfilling every moral standard, is the heart of holiness. (Romans 13:8-10) We will love because He loved us first.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:16-21)   

Let us set ourselves apart and highly prioritize loving the brethren. (1 Peter 1:22) As we abide in Jesus’ love (John 15:9) we will be transformed by His perspective and love others in a way that glorifies Him in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12) We will be blameless, holy, in the presence of the living God.

Jesus commanded this. Paul prayed for its fulfillment. Let us confidently ask the Lord to perfect this love in our lives.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

It is easy to forget where we’ve been since 2005 - so I thought I’d write out a list…

• FIRE Church, Concord, North Carolina, November 2009
• Apple Hill Lodge, Moravian Falls, North Carolina, November 2009
• Word of Life, Fort Meyers, Florida, October 2009 
• Adat Chaiim, Kingston, New York, October 2009 
• Shomair Yisrael, Knoxville, Tennessee, October 2009
• House of the Lord, Flushing, New York, July 2009
• Discipleship Training School, abbreviated seminar, Beit Moreshet, Boca Raton, July 2009
• InterVarsity Staff Training, seminar, Eastern Ohio, May 2009
• International Accelerated Missions, annual conference, Albany, New York, April 2009
• Tikkun Ministries, Continuing Education Regional Leadership Institute: Boca Raton, Florida, 2008
• Tikkun Ministries, Continuing Education Regional Leadership Institute: Ormond Beach, Florida, 2008
• Tikkun Ministries, Continuing Education Regional Leadership Institute: New City, New York, 2008
• Tikkun Ministries, Continuing Education Regional Leadership Institute: Nashville, Tennessee, 2008
• Tikkun Ministries, Continuing Education Regional Leadership Institute: Gaithersburg, Maryland, 2008
• History Makers School of Ministry, seminar, Fort Myers, Florida, 2008
• FIRE School of Ministry, Intensive One-Week Course (20 hours) for the student body, Concord, North Carolina, 2007
• New Covenant Church, East Meadow, seminar, New York, 2007
• History Makers School of Ministry, seminar, Fort Myers, Florida, 2007
• New Covenant Community of Believers, seminar, Glen Cove, New York, 2006
• Centralia International Training Base, Return Ministries, Intensive One-Week Course (20 hours), Centralia, Canada, 2006
• Farmingdale Christian Church, message, Farmingdale, New York, 2006
• Apple Hill Retreat Center, seminar, Moravian Falls, North Carolina, 2006
• Ohalei Rachamim, seminar, Haifa, Israel, 2006
• Revive Israel, Messianic Jewish Ministry Training Center, abbreviated seminar, Mevoseret Tsion, Israel, 2006
• Beit Imanuel, seminar, Joffa, Israel, 2006
• Tiferet Yeshua, seminar, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2006
• Seed of Abraham, seminar, Albany, NY, 2006
• Shaarei HaShamayim, seminar, Bellmore, NY, 2006
• Faculty seminar, Centralia International Training Base, Return Ministries, Centralia, Canada, held in Glen Cove, New York, 2005
• RiverLife, message, Mooresville, North Carolina, 2005
• FIRE School of Ministry, seminar, Concord, North Carolina, 2005

Please pray for strategic open doors for the Seminar.

There is an interesting Hebrew word that connotes attraction and attachment. It is plainly used to describe a common experience - and not a particularly ethically pristine one, at that. Here are two verses where it is used to describe human relationships:

But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter; please give her to him in marriage. (Genesis 34:8)

and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and have a desire for her and would take her as a wife for yourself, (Deuteronomy 21:11)

In these two verses the word chashaq is translated ‘longs for’ and ‘desire.’ The context is plain. The meaning is clear. Amazingly, this word is also used to describe the love of God to Israel, and the love of the psalmist to God.

Surprisingly, this word is used in one of the primary verses used to bolster the perspective of volitional love. The word chashaq is found in Deuteronomy 7:7:

 ”The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples”.

When the words ‘set His love on you’ are read, they are interpreted as pointing to God’s will-power. It seems to indicate that ‘His love’ was utilized through choice. Apparently God picked up His love and, through the use of volition, placed His love upon Israel. This view maintains that God chooses to love, and that this love is free from any loveliness found in the beloved. This outlook is often expressed by those who stress God’s sovereignty.

Notice, this verse is part of one sentence. It is not a complete thought. Many tend to use this part of the sentence to stress that there was nothing meritorious about Israel to warrant God’s choice. They reason that He loved the unlovely through choice and not attraction. However, the sentence continues, here’s the rest of it.

but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 7:8)

The reason Yahweh delivered Israel is because He loved them (He was attracted to them, He found them to be lovely) and kept the oath He swore to the patriarchs. The Hebrew word translated “set his love” is chashaq. As we have seen, this doesn’t imply volition, it implies ‘attraction and attachment.’ Young’s Literal Translation interprets chashaq as ‘delighted in you.’ That is a far cry from ‘set His love on you’, but a lot closer to the verse’s intent.

Something which might attract another ‘deity’s’ attention, the number of worshipers, did not figure into God’s equation. Something else attracted God’s love and it is not mentioned in this verse. However an aspect of this attraction is hinted at in vs. 8 when the covenant vows made to the patriarchs are brought to mind. As a matter of fact, this very word describes the same type of love the LORD had for the patriarchs. In Deuteronomy 10:15, it is translated ‘set His affection.’

“Yet on your fathers did the LORD set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 10:15)

The word is also used to describe a relationship from man to God in Psalm 91:14. It is translated “loved”: Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

Here are two other translations:

TNK Psalm 91:14 - Because he is devoted to Me …

YLT Psalm 91:14 - Because in Me he hath delighted …

Let’s summarize what we find when we study the ways chashaq is used in the Bible to describe relationships. Twice it is used to speak of the attraction of a man towards a woman he finds to be beautiful. Twice it is used to inform the reader of God’s attraction to people: once to Israel and once to the patriarchs. Once it is used to portray the love the psalmist had for God which provokes a response in God towards the lover.

Deuteronomy 7:7, the verse popularly used to promote the view that God’s love has nothing to do with attraction, is in fact infused with a vocabulary that teaches the opposite. God saw, God delighted in, God gives Himself to the objects of His love.

Transgenerational Love

Covenant Between Friends

Not only did He love them, not only was He attracted to them and attached to them, but they were also loved because God loved their ancestors. The One who chose them said,

God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. (Genesis 15:13-14)

The LORD appeared to (Isaac) the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you, and multiply your descendents, For the sake of My servant Abraham.” (Genesis 26:24)

And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. (Genesis 28:13)

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” (Genesis 50:24)

This understanding continues into the New Testament. Paul wrote this: …they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.(Romans 11:28b)

This is similar to Jonathan and David’s covenant. This covenant had its origin in love:

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. (1 Samuel 18:3)

The covenant was valid from generation to generation.

Jonathan said to David, “Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD will be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever.’” (1 Samuel 20:42a)

Covenant love made David swear that he would care for Jonathan’s descendents.

The LORD loved Israel and also confirmed the oath that He had sworn to the patriarchs. They were the descendents of Abraham, the man who agaped God.

“Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? (2 Chronicles 20:7)

“But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend (Isaiah 41:8)

In these two verses we find a key as to why God made an oath to Abraham. It was the patriarch’s love for God. Astonishingly, the emphasis in these verses is not on God’s love for Abraham, but Abraham’s love for God! He was the man who was God’s friend, the one who loved God enough to be His friend.

It brings to mind the verse we looked at from Psalm 91: “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will…” I wish it were not so, but love for God is a rare thing. Friendship towards God is precious to God. It moves God to faithful love which, according to Paul, can endure through the ages. The Lord has so constructed our relationship with Him so as to be mutual. Therefore it says, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8a)

We looked at Deuteronomy 7:7,8 to examine one of the primary verses used to demonstrate the concept of volitional love. Does that verse demonstrate that concept? No, what we find is attraction and covenant loving loyalty that goes on from one generation to the next.

Through holy prophets, the God of the Bible discloses that He experiences a wide range of emotions.  Many dismiss the sacred report.  The sophisticated say these Scriptures are poor attempts to describe the indescribable, or are wishful thinking, or perhaps an infantile projection of our passions onto the concept of a Creator.  (A term used to define this is: “anthropopathic language.”) 

The critic disregards this truth: humanity is made in God’s image.  As His image, we are able to represent, reflect upon, experience and relate to the emotions that proceed from our Father.  One of these emotions is delight.  God enjoys many things.  That in which He delights, He loves.  The following is an overview of God’s delights. 

He delights in the Messiah:

“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. (Isaiah 42:1a)

He delights in His people:

… the men of Judah (are) His delightful plant. (Isaiah 5:7b)

He delights in His servant’s prosperity:

… “The LORD … delights in the prosperity of His servant.” (Psalm 35:27b)

He delights in Wisdom who is delighting in humanity:

Then I (Wisdom) was beside Him, as a master workman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in the world, His earth, and having my delight in the sons of men. (Proverbs 8:30-31)

There are sacrifices which delight Him:

Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices… (Psalm 51:19a)

He delights in the upright’s prayer:

… the prayer of the upright is His delight. (Proverbs 15:8b)

He delights in uprightness.  He loves equity.  He delights in honesty:

“… You … delight in uprightness, (1 Chronicles 29:17b)

… a just weight is His delight. (Proverbs 11:1b)

… those who deal faithfully are His delight. (Proverbs 12:22b)

So far we’ve seen that God delights in the Messiah, Israel, His servants’ well-being, Wisdom and humanity, the sacrifices of the broken, the prayers of the upright person and the integrity of the redeemed community. Let’s invest a little more time and go a little further. 

First, an aspect of God’s delight is that it is comparable to the delight of a bridegroom.

But you will be called, “My delight is in her,” and your land, “Married”; for the LORD delights in you, and to Him your land will be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:4b-5)

There is no Biblical metaphor which describes joyous celebration more than a wedding.  The language in this prophecy reveals God’s anticipation and joy. 

You cannot overestimate the joy God has in those who have returned to Him through the blood of Jesus.  Each individual’s redemption is similar to the promised national reconciliation of Israel to the LORD. 

God describes another type of pleasure He has in His people.  God’s delight is akin to that of a father. 

“Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? (Jeremiah 31:20a)

I know some children who are absolutely delightful.  They look delightful, act delightfully, speak delightful words.  Their interaction with their parents is …. delightful.  They are delightful.  God delights in His people as if they were His beloved child.

The following challenge is important.  It is a foundational prophetic passage.  Through Jeremiah, the LORD reminds rulers (reminding us, too) that success, seen in strategic wisdom, power and wealth, is not the goal of life.  If rulers want God’s favor upon their lives they must line up with God’s activity and goals: mercy that intervenes, justice that vindicates, and enduring godly relationships.     

Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness (Chesed), justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

In verse 24 we find a Hebrew word: “chesed.”  Chesed describes the manifest favor of God.  This favor is revealed when the object of the kindness is in trouble.  Chesed is intervention on behalf of someone that is beloved.  God delights in showing this type of favor.  Chesed delights God.

… He delights in unchanging love.  (Chesed)  (Micah 7:18b)

He also loves it when lovingkindness (chesed) is exercised on behalf of those He loves by others (whom He also loves).  In fact, if you want to provoke God’s Chesed, show chesed to others. 

… for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7b)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  (Matthew 5:7)

Those in whom God delights are the objects of His saving work. 

He rescued me, because He delights in me. (Psalm 18:19b)

Finally, remember, your Father delights in loving relationships.  God has revealed that religious rituals (which He instituted) without godly relationships are an abomination.  How sincere is our worship?  We may assess how genuine our worship is through this reality:  if God is truly honored, the worshiper will also honor those created in His image.  If the King of Glory is sincerely magnified, the fabric of redeemed and covenanted society will be strong and healthy; reflecting the love God has for each person, for each social unit. 

For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.  (Hosea 6:6) 

Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? … He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:7a-8)

The form of worship, the degree of sacrifice, was never to be the focus of the worshiper - God was the focus.  The God who delights in you.  The God who also delights in your brother.  The authenticity of our adoration is assayed in the crucible of our covenant relationships, in particular, the relationships within and between our local congregations. 

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. (1 John 5:1  )

In the name of Yeshua, may our Father strengthen us to love one another.  May our lives and worship be delightful to Him.

This article will begin to lightly touch upon how our Father sometimes uses circumstances (and at other times specifically sets them up) to reveal His love, and the role of trials in reaching our destinies.  God willing, we’ll complete these thoughts next month.  Let’s begin.

The oracle (burden) of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.  “I have loved you,” says the LORD. but you say, “How have You loved us?” (Malachi 1:1-2a)

God’s love is often disbelieved.  One reason is that there is enough evidence in this world to cause one to doubt His devotion. (Psalm 22:1) We are not living in paradise.  This cosmos is a very troubled place; situations militate against every person.  Everyone has trouble in this troubled world.  In the midst of trials, questions are asked, conclusions are drawn.  For example: “Why did He not prevent…?  Why has He allowed….?  He must not be love.  He must not love me.  He’s not good.”

Still, this sentence stands: “I have loved you.”  The reason He said this to Israel was to reveal this reality against the backdrop of their disobedience, disappointment and disbelief.  God has always provided Himself with a background against which He might reveal Himself to humanity. 

Someone who has a sane view of the world grasps the basic fundamental realities of his environment.  Now, consider this: a delusional person can generally walk down a hall to get his lunch.  Many people are very capable of functioning in this world-system, but don’t see it for what it is.  The world system does not know God.  It’s crazy. 

To the degree we share the world’s insane perspective we will not recognize His love for us.  The Scriptures say, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” (1 John 3:1)  When we see things from a worldly perspective, not only will we not understand our circumstances, we won’t even comprehend our own identities. 

Describing the world, John wrote, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.  The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:16,17)  The apostolic judgment is this: all that composes the structures of this world system is motivated towards vanity.  The pursuit of passing comfort, transient vainglory, the desire to uphold structures which provide an illusion of security, these passions motivate people.  This includes that which has the appearance of moral excellence. 

God composed this cosmos so we might know Him and enjoy life.  In the beginning, God constructed creation that we might flourish.  He created a context in which we might understand Him in His glory as an omnipotent Creator, as a caring Father, as a wise and creative Friend.  Adam was called to cultivate the Garden, but Eden was the place God chose to cultivate His relationship with Adam. 

After the fall, working within the limitations of humanity’s sinful choices, God prepared the stage for the entrance of the pre-incarnate Son.  It was against the backdrop of darkness that the Light of the World was able to shine.  This Light searched for us and sought out the darkness of human hearts - He shines in that darkness. 

Perhaps you are in the midst of a righteous pattern of life.  You are experiencing and advancing righteousness, shalom and joy in both your sowing and reaping. (Romans 14:17) It is like the Garden of Eden.  Or, maybe you are working within the results of rebellious choices. (Hosea 8:7) It is as if your life can be represented by Israel’s captivity to Rome, and apostasy.  It makes no difference; your God is working behind the scenes to reveal His love to you.

Just-As-It-Is

It is actually pretty shocking that we live in a cosmos whose god is adverse to the Creator.  But that is the witness of the Scriptures.   Paul called the devil, “the god of this world.”  According to John, the cosmos is in the control of the evil one.  Look how strongly these men phrased this truth:

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,  in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)  

We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)  

Although the world is bound in unbelief and insane in its infidelity, God is not bound. (Psalm 115) He Who Made Us is working within the world, just-as-it-is, to bring humanity to Himself.  This can be seen in what the Messiah did at Calvary.  Within the cosmos, just-as-it-is, Father loved us so much that He gave His Son to redeem us.  This redemption took place within a fallen, darkened, age.  Indeed, it was never darker.

Right now, the Lord Jesus is working to change this world from within. 

And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom … (Matthew 13:37-38a)   

The Messiah is sowing the children of the Kingdom into every ethnic group.   These seeds are to follow the example of their Lord.  They are to fall into the ground (where they are sown), die (live a life of Calvary love) and then bear much fruit (make disciples). (John 12:23,24) This means, you!

Where has He sown you?

God has destined you to advance the Kingdom within your spheres of influence.  You are called to increasingly experience and release the influence of the coming age.  You are deliberately sown by the Son of Man within the human structures and circumstances in which you find yourself.  There are many promises which illustrate God’s loving desire to exalt you.  Here’s a primary one:

… all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time… (1 Peter 5:5b-6)   

This inviolate principle reveals that it is God’s loving purpose to give prominence to His people when the time is right.  You are called to receive His love and embrace humility that you might display glory.  Those schooled in humility are able to maintain the attitude necessary to sustain exaltation.  God desires to lift you up.  He loves you that much.  It is the Father’s delight to give you the kingdom.  (Luke 12:32)

In the name of the Messiah Jesus, Father, open our eyes that we might see the set-up.  You have sown us in the field of this world.   It is Your desire that we should experience and demonstrate Your Kingdom.  Thank You for working in this world, just-as-it-is, to reveal Your love for us and through us.  We receive Your love with gladness.  Amen.