Liturgy: “Delight yourself in the LORD”
We all feel the temptation to fret, fear, and worry. So, let’s encourage each other to delight in the LORD and “take refuge in Him,” because He is our “stronghold in time of trouble."
What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.
This Week’s Scripture Readings
This week’s liturgy is contributed by Dr. Joshua Hershey, Assistant Professor of Science and Philosophy:
Psalm 37 has been a wellspring of encouragement to me for many years. I’ve even used part of verse 4 as the basis for my bank account password. (I trust you all, but no, I’m not giving away any more password hints!) So, whenever I need to access the account, I am reminded of this assurance: “Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4, NASB)
This promise does not imply that God will give us whatever we want, of course. Rather, He becomes our heart’s desire when we delight in Him. The desires of our hearts realign so that pleasing Him becomes our highest priority. Then, when our deepest desires are fixed on God so that we delight in Him, we can “rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him” (verse 7), knowing that we have an inheritance of abundant prosperity (verse 11) to sustain us even in days of famine (verse 19).
In view of God’s promises, the psalm repeatedly encourages us not to fret (verses 1, 7, and 8) but to delight in the LORD, trust in Him, and wait for Him. Even if we misstep, our future is secure because of His faithfulness:
The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. (Psalm 37:23-25, NIV)
The assurance is reaffirmed in the New Testament. Jesus himself reminds us that we have no reason to worry about tomorrow, since our heavenly Father knows what we need. As we continue to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,” our Father will provide all of our needs (Matthew 6:33).
I find these promises especially refreshing during seasons of life when my plans and future paths are uncertain—as they are for most of us right now, in the turmoil of the present financial crisis here at our beloved college. We all feel the temptation to fret, fear, and worry. So, let’s encourage each other to delight in the LORD and “take refuge in Him,” because He is our “stronghold in time of trouble” (Psalm 37:39-40).