PS 36:7-8 How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.

The only reason for people not to value God’s love is that they don’t understand it. David experienced it to a degree that allowed him to value it above physical life itself, and that is indeed the correct valuation. Without an understanding of God’s love, verse 8 might seem almost hedonistic. However David had experienced what James put into words much later: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) The devil tries to portray God as some cruel taskmaster, just waiting to whack us for some infraction, when the opposite is true. Our sins deserve far worse than we ever experience, because God is merciful and kind. He is also righteous and just, which is why Jesus had to come to take the penalty for our sins, because they could not be ignored. However, God delights to bless us. (Luke 12:32) The pleasures of sin are real but they are momentary, and the consequences are eternal. The pleasures of communion with God are far deeper, and they are eternal. Our coming to God should be based on how worthy He is to be worshiped, rather than just on what we can get out of it, but there’s no question that the benefits are outstanding!

I have certainly tasted God’s “river of delights,” but that doesn’t mean I’m immune to temptation. I need to stay alert at all times, not allowing the devil to use my flesh to trick me. As a pastor, I need to encourage the believers to do likewise. I am to inform them of the sort of tricks the devil uses, (2 Corinthians 2:11) but the focus of my teaching must be God and not the devil. I am to counter lies and misconceptions with the truth of God, allowing the sword of the Spirit to cut through the tangled mess that builds up in people’s minds. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6) I need to impart to the believers an expectation of good from God, an anticipation of blessing that will carry them through the junk we all have to wade through because of living in a fallen world.

Father, thank You for this Word this morning. Help me impart it to others indeed. So few people really seem to anticipate good from You with pure motives. Either there’s a sense of entitlement that doesn’t understand blessing as grace, or there’s a feeling that since they aren’t worthy, You won’t bless them. Help me cut through both misconceptions with Your truth. I pray particularly for the young woman who is so devastated by having her plans dashed. She’s not yet a full believer, and can’t really see that Your plans are to prosper her and not harm her. (Jeremiah 29:11) Help her cry out to You in her current emotional pit, so that she may discover Your love that is far better than anything she could have planned. Thank You. Praise God!