We read in Zephaniah 3:17, “The LORD your God is mighty in your midst; He will save; He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest in His love; He rejoices over you with singing.” (AFV)
We also read in Psalm 2:4, “From his throne in heaven the Lord laughs and mocks their feeble plans.” (GNB)
It is also written in Genesis 6:6, “And the Lord had sorrow because he had made man on the earth, and grief was in his heart.” (BBE)
When we look at the above three verses we observe three kinds of emotions that the Lord reveals to us. The God who created the heavens and the earth, created man in His own image. To have the image of God implies that just as God has emotions, man too was created with the ability to feel various emotions.
In Zephaniah 3:17 we read that God is happy, and rejoices over His people. Psalm 2:4 depicts to us a God who laughs and mocks at man for his feeble plans. However, in Genesis 6:6 we see that God is sorrowful, and grieved that He had made man on the earth.
Many people think that the Christian life of holiness is a boring and dismal life, but truly it is a joyful life that God calls us to. As we study these three emotions that God expressed, we must realize that God’s love is unchanging over all of His creation. Nonetheless, when God looks at all that mankind is involved in, His emotions are varied. In order to understand this let us consider the way a father and mother love their children. Though they love their children a lot, depending on what the children so, sometimes they are delighted over them, and at other times they do feel sadness about certain behavior.
As we go through this message, I hope each of us will be able to evaluate if God rejoices over us, is mocking at us or is grieved with us.
God rejoices over us
Parents rejoice over their children when they fulfill their expectations of them. When children are doing well in life, are disciplined, and are a good example to others, parents are thrilled. So also, when we walk in ways that are pleasing to God, live according to His expectations, and do things that are delightful to Him, the Lord too is jubilant over us.
God laughs at us
Oftentimes we forget that there is a God above, and do things that are gratifying to us. So often we are like little children who think they can do things without their parent’s knowledge. A story is told of a little child who was instructed by her mother to not eat sugar as the child had a craving for it. One day when the Mom had gone out, the child managed to get hold of the sugar container, and ate the sugar. Being a child she spilt sugar all over the place, and also had her mouth covered with sugar. On returning when Mom asked the child if she took the sugar, and the little girl denied it. Obviously this humored her Mom who could see the trails of sugar all over the place. So too, there are many who think they are smarter than God, and think they can accomplish everything because of who they are, who they know, or what they possess. God would truly jeer at such for they do not realize that there is an all-knowing God who is above all.
King Herod had Peter arrested, and even scheduled a date for his execution. The Lord must have looked down, and mocked at Herod. Remember that the beginning, and the end of a man are all in God’s hands. Man can make many plans, but God’s purpose alone will prevail in the end. Saul thought that he could apprehend and persecute all those believed, and followed Jesus. God must have scorned at Saul, for He knew that Saul would be stopped in his tracks on the way to Damascus. The prophet Jonah was called, and instructed by God to go and preach against the city of Nineveh. Jonah thought he could disobey God when he undertook the voyage on a ship to Tarshish. God must have laughed at Jonah when He sent the furious storm, and got the prophet back on track. So when God observes our childish behavior and disobedience, He can’t help but laugh at us.
God grieves over us
We read in Genesis 6:6 that God regretted for having made man, and He was grieved. It is therefore crucial that we ask ourselves if we make God glad, or if our deeds make him laugh at us, or if what we are doing makes Him mourn over us.
What are the things that grieve God?
We read in Ephesians 4:29, “And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them.”(TPT)
When we speak about bad words, there will be many who will justify that they never use any such words because of their up-bringing, qualification and status in society. However, observe the verse mentioned above to see what is spoken of as good words. They are words that are spoken to encourage and build the faith of those who hear us. Our words must bring peace, courage, and motivation to those who hear them. Oftentimes, the words we speak are worthless, and of no use to anyone. In families when there is conflict, family members talk about leaving or there are others who talk about dying, not realizing that these are also ugly or hateful words. Any time our words are used to hurt others, they become bad words.
We must desire that the words we speak should enthrall the heart of God. When a child participates in a debate, his or her parents are overjoyed hearing their child speak so well before a huge audience. As parents if we are so thrilled about our children’s ability to speak well, how much more will God be pleased to hear His children speak useful, appropriate words that could build faith in someone else? Let us decide to not let any unnecessary words proceed from our mouth.
He goes on further to say in Ephesians 4:30, “The Holy Spirit of God has sealed you in Jesus Christ until you experience your full salvation. So never grieve the Spirit of God or take for granted his holy influence in your life.” (TPT)
We are God’s temple, and the Holy Spirit of God lives within us. So whenever we use hurtful words, we are grieving the Spirit of God. God is a wonderful God who reveals His emotions to us.
Also we read further in Ephesians 4:31, “Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults.” (TPT)
The first thing we need to lay aside in our hearts is bitterness. Bitterness is referred to as a root, and just as a root in a plant, this root is not seen outside. If we feel a plant or a tree is an obstruction, and cut off the plant or tree, but don’t uproot it, it will surely sprout again. That is the power of the root. So also, if bitterness is inside of someone, even the good things that people say will sound wrong to them.
A person shared his sad experience of how he had kindly enquired after someone, but the person reacted to him inappropriately. He told me that he later realized that the person probably had some hard feelings against him causing him to react harshly. Let us never allow the bitter root to grow inside of us. As children of God, the first quality that we should develop is to be forgiving of one another.
If bitterness is left unchecked it leads to anger. No wonder then simple conversations become those of conflict in such situations. Anger when left to linger on will lead to clamor, and this will further lead to slander. Slander will eventually lead to malice. The above mentioned verse is beautifully explained by the Holy Spirit of God so we can be cautious to not let any sort of bitterness grow inside of us.
Generally when there is a cyclone brewing, the meteorological department will set up some flags to warn those living on the sea shore to stay alert and safe. When the intensity of the storm is high, they set up a red flag that alerts and forbids fishermen from venturing into the sea. So also all these things the Spirit of God has mentioned are warning to us, and it would be wise for us to not move into the area of clamor, malice and slander, but rather deal with it at the very root itself by not allowing bitterness to grow inside of us.
What are the things that make God happy?
We read in Luke 15:7,“Jesus continued, “In the same way, there will be a glorious celebration in heaven over the rescue of one lost sinner who repents, comes back home, and returns to the fold—more so than for all the righteous people who never strayed away.” (TPT)
The word of God talks about the fact that there is tremendous rejoicing in heaven, and the heart of God is really glad when one sinner repents. Our human heart has been trained in a particular way, and this could be because of the influence of our school, family or society we live in. However, when a man understands God’s will for his or her life, their heart will turn away from the way it was tuned to think, and will turn towards God, this is what God calls repentance.
In the first ever sermon that Jesus preached, it was not about healing or changing of one’s circumstances or delivering one of their problems. On the other hand, the message was a call to repentance, for the kingdom of heaven was at hand. John the Baptist who preceded Jesus also preached the same message of repentance.
It is really important for us to consider the things that fill our thoughts. Our actions are mostly the outcome of our thoughts. We need to comprehend the will of God for our lives, and when we fulfill the same our Father in heaven rejoices over us.
The father who rejoiced over his son’s return
Jesus told a parable of two sons, the younger of whom asked the father for his share of property. The father duly divided his property among his two sons. When the younger son got his share, he decided to walk away from his father. His heart moved away from his father, and went toward the things of this world. This son wasted all of his father’s property, and finally was reduced to the state of having to tend pigs. Even in that job he got no food, and was longing for the pods that the pigs ate. Only in such dire straits, this young man came to his senses. The younger son came to a point of repentance to realize the position he held in his father’s house, and all that he had forfeited. This younger son’s decline began the day he moved away from his father.
We too must be cautioned that every time our hearts move away from God to things of this world, we will certainly face the consequences for the same. As children of God we have been endowed with the image of God, and it is good for us to evaluate if we reflect the same in our lives. The moment mankind moved away from God, and forgot all about God, we too started spiraling downwards. What was considered a good standard earlier has been watered down, and today many things that was regarded as evil has become acceptable today. God did not call us to live this kind of lives.
The repentant son
When the son repented, the first thing he did was to realize that he had sinned against God, and against his father. When he repented the young man got up, and decided to go to his father. The boy came to his father, and confessed all of the wrong things he had done. He told his father that he was not even fit to be called his son, and that he should accept him as his servant. The father had no time to hear the son’s explanations, for he wanted him to be restored back to the position that he had forfeited. One can imagine the state in which the son returned after having been with pigs, but the father embraced him just as he was. He was given a robe, sandals and a ring to signify his re-instatement as a son in the family.
Repentance is the realization that we have done many wrong things. It is the recognition that we have hurt God, and that we need to get back, to set right our relationship with him. We too must confess our sins to the Lord, and tell him all those areas where we have wronged Him. There is so much of happiness in heaven when one repentant sinner turns back to God. All of us were marred by the dirt of sin, but the Lord in His love is every ready to enfold us back into His fold. God the Father sent His son Jesus into this world to redeem sinful mankind. Jesus was the sinless Son of God who came down to take our sins on Himself.
The testimony Job received from God
This was the testimony that God gave about Job as we read in Job 1:8,“And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (GNB)
We can imagine the joy in the heart of God to speak of Job this way. As parents we are so proud of our children’s accomplishments especially when they achieve high positions. On the other hand, consider all that things that make the heart of God rejoice. God exults when a man is blameless, upright, fears God and turn away from evil. God was so pleased with Job that He could challenge Satan to try, and tempt him if he could.
As children of God, we are called to examine ourselves to see if God is happy with us, or if he finds us an object of scorn and grief.
When a parent is happy with their child, the first thing they do is to bless him or her with all their heart. Many people think that if they have money or position they can be happy, but it is far more beneficial for us to be blessed by our parents, and those around us. The blessings that God bestows on us is from generation to generation. Abraham lived a life that was pleasing to God, and God not only blessed Abraham, but also his descendants after him. God is one who pours out His blessings on us from generation to generation. May we live lives that are totally pleasing to God so that God would truly rejoice over us.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnesfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
