Delight Thyself Also in the Lord
The sermon emphasizes the importance of delighting in the Lord and seeking to understand His thoughts and will in order to have effective prayers and a deeper relationship with God.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the profound connection between delighting in the Lord and the fulfillment of our desires, as exemplified by Daniel's fervent prayers that shaped the course of history. He illustrates how God's love can inspire our desires, aligning them with His will, leading to powerful prayers that invoke divine providence. The sermon encourages believers to seek God's thoughts and plans, surrendering their own ambitions to embrace His divine purpose. Simpson highlights the promise in Psalms 37:4, suggesting that true delight in the Lord transforms our hearts and desires. Ultimately, he calls for a deep, personal relationship with God that shapes our prayers and actions.
Text
Daniel's heart was filled with God's love for His work and kingdom, and his prayers were the mightiest forces of his time. Through them God gave to him the restoration of Israel to their own land, and the acknowledgment by the rulers of the world of the God of whom he testified and for whom he lived. There is a beautiful promise in Psalm 37: Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (v.4). It is, perhaps, legitimate to translate this as meaning not only the fulfillment of our desires, but even the inspiration of our desires, the inbreathing of His thoughts into us so that our prayers shall be in accord with His will and bring back to us the unfailing answer of His mighty providence.
Teach me Thy thoughts, 0 God!
Think Thou, Thyself, in me; Then shall I only always think Thine own thoughts after Thee. Teach me Thy thoughts, 0 God! Show me Thy plan divine; Save me from all my plans and works, And lead me into Thine.
Sermon Outline
- The Power of Prayer
- The Promise of Psalm 37
- Teaching God's Thoughts
- The Inbreathing of His Thoughts
- The Unfailing Answer of His Providence
Key Quotes
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psalm 37:4).” — A.B. Simpson
“Teach me Thy thoughts, 0 God! Think Thou, Thyself, in me; Then shall I only always think Thine own thoughts after Thee.” — A.B. Simpson
“Save me from all my plans and works, And lead me into Thine.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Delighting in the Lord means having a heart filled with God's love for His work and kingdom.
- Seeking to understand God's thoughts and will can make your prayers more effective.
- Trust in God's providence and let Him lead you into His plan.