From May until September each year, my husband keeps a hummingbird feeder outside our east-facing window. One of the delights of summer is the wondrous pleasure of watching the daily dance of "hummers" as they swoop, dip, sip, reverse, and then dart away. The variety in the birds' size, body shape, and flight pattern around the feeder provides infinite fascination. No two birds look exactly alike or approach to drink from the feeder in the same way.

One morning, as I sat with my Bible open to the Psalms, in view of the hummingbird feeder, my delighted pleasure in the "hummers" prepared me to glimpse a tiny fraction of God's delight in us who follow Jesus.

I read, then studied Psalm 147:11.

Psalm 147:11 – The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy. (NKJV)

I looked up the original Hebrew word meanings in my Bible lexicon-dictionary and other reference books:

• The Lord – The infinite, eternal Being Who is, Who was, and is to come; active and emphatic; the One Who spoke and created, then formed humans as His representatives, and breathed into us the breath of life.
• Takes pleasure – is satisfied with, accepts, delights, enjoys, favours
• Fear – are reverent
• Hope – wait patiently, trustingly, expectantly
• Mercy – Hebrew word "kheh-sed" (sounds almost like "He said") used to define God's covenant relationship with His people. It represents His strength and permanence of love, kindness, grace, reliable faithfulness, goodness, and devotion to us.

In summary, God joyfully delights with favour in people who worship Him and, with patient expectation, trust His powerful, generous, lovingkindness.

My fascination in the hummingbird feeder multiplied when my attention came to the Lord's infinite, satisfied pleasure in people seeking His blessing of "kheh-sed" mercy, grace, kindness, and love, because the feeder now reminds me of what He does for us.

What good news we have to share! Christ made the way clear for us to approach our Father in heaven and to take to heart His blessed mercy, grace, kindness, and love here on the earth that He made for us. He delights in our worship and in our trusting expectation of His favour.

So what could we do today to bring the Lord pleasure? Could we swoop, hover, dip, and drink deeply from His everlasting "kheh-sed"?

Prayer: Beloved Father in heaven, because of the finished work of Christ Jesus our Lord, we may come in thanksgiving to worship You, knowing that our worship brings You pleasure. Help us to believe Your delight in us. We ask in the name of Christ. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Pat Bell <llebpat@gmail.com>
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
Send your feedback to the author