You Belong to Him!
God's delight in us is the key to our deliverance from every battle in our soul, and He promises to be with us in every trial and temptation.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound love and delight that God has for His people, as illustrated in the Song of Solomon and the Psalms. He explains that God sees His bride as precious and beautiful, and this understanding is crucial for overcoming spiritual battles and finding rest in Him. Wilkerson highlights Isaiah's message of redemption, reminding us that despite our failures, God claims us as His own and walks with us through life's trials. The assurance of belonging to God is not just a comforting thought but a foundational truth that empowers us in difficult times.
Text
In Song of Solomon, the Lord says of his bride: "How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!" (Song of Solomon 7:6). Three of the Hebrew words in this verse are synonymous: fair (meaning "precious"), pleasant (indicating "pleasure"), and delights.
These words describe Jesus' thoughts toward His bride as He beholds her. He looks at her and says, "How beautiful, sweet and delightful you are. You are precious to me, O love!" And in turn, the bride boasts, "I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me" (verse 10). The meaning here is, "He runs after me with delight. He chases me because I am so precious to him!"
These same thoughts are found throughout the Psalms. "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy" (Psalm 147:11). "For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation" (149:4).
Now, I can try to convince you of God's delight in you by telling you, "You are precious to the Lord!" Yet you may think, "Well, that's a lovely thought. How sweet."
This truth is much more than a lovely thought, however. It is the very key to your deliverance from every battle that rages in your soul. It is the secret to entering into the rest God has promised you. And until you lay hold of it--until it becomes a foundation of truth in your heart--you will not be able to withstand what is ahead in this wicked time.
Isaiah had a revelation of God's great delight in us. He prophesied to Israel this word from the Lord:
"O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:1-2).
Isaiah was not talking about a literal flood or fire. He was talking about what the people were going through spiritually and mentally. They were in captivity at the time and their floods were trials, their fires were temptations, their rivers were testings. It was all the devil's attempt to destroy and overwhelm God's people.
Isaiah's words were a message of pure mercy to Israel. They were in captivity because of their own stupidity and foolishness and they deserved nothing. But God sent them a weeping, brokenhearted prophet who said, "God wants me to tell you that you belong to Him!"
Sermon Outline
- God's Delight in Us
- The Key to Deliverance
- God's Promise of Protection
- Isaiah's revelation of God's mercy
- God's promise to be with us in trials
Key Quotes
“How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!” — David Wilkerson
“He runs after me with delight. He chases me because I am so precious to him!” — David Wilkerson
“O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Remember that God's delight in you is the key to your deliverance from every battle in your soul.
- Trust in God's promise to be with you in every trial and temptation.
- Lay hold of the truth that God's delight in you is real and apply it to your life.