Praise Before Pleasure
Reflective Reading: Psalm 111
Years ago I came across the concept of Christian Hedonism in the book by John Piper, Desiring God. That concept forever changed my life! A secular hedonist is someone who lives for their own pleasure. A Christian hedonist is one who lives for the pleasure of God. The idea living for the pleasure of God germinated from the Westminster Confession, which states: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” John Piper reworded the confession by replacing the word “and” with “by.”
“The chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying him forever!”
God created us to enjoy Him, and for us to be enjoyed by Him. This concept is so life-altering that it motivates my life, not only daily for the last 25 years but hourly.
In Psalm 111 we read:
“Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, studied by all them that have pleasure therein” (1:2).
Experiencing the kind of pleasure that David writes about in this Psalm is best understood by the meaning of the word “studied.” The word “studied” in Hebrew means to seek with care, frequent a place, invest, inquire, investigate diligently, and tread frequently. Like anything in life, developing skills or an intimate relationship with someone (or Someone) requires a significant investment of time, resources, and commitment. If you want to enjoy the pleasure of God, it will require a “frequent, diligent investment.”
There is a warning, however, to those who desire the experience of pleasure. Pleasure must never be sought first. Pleasure, in its God-ordained state, is the reward for a diligent, “studied” pursuit of knowing, loving, and obeying God. This godly pleasure comes after your investment. Those who seek pleasure first, will in the end, have their enjoyment turned into a bitter taste and pay a costly price (Hebrews 11:24-26). Proverbs 5:9-11 describes such a price as the loss of one’s virtue, value, valor, vigor, and vitality.
On the other hand, those who make a “frequent, diligent investment” in their pursuit of knowing God, will experiencing unfathomable pleasures later. What kind of pleasures? Let’s jump back to Psalm 111,
“His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth forever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.”
What an incredible return on investment! Those who diligently study, discover that the works of the Lord are honorable, glorious, wonderful, gracious, full of compassion, and powerful! They receive meat and a heritage!—but it can only be enjoyed when we are willing to invest time, resources, and commitment.
As I reflect upon these truths, I am struck with verse 2.
“Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, studied by all them that have pleasure therein” (111:2).
As I read, I cannot help but link the last sentence with the first. “The works of the LORD are great, studied by all them who have pleasure therein.” Where does this pleasure come from? The first sentence—“I will praise the LORD with my whole heart”! Pleasure stems from a heart of praise. What makes us praise? Appreciation; appreciation for God’s works and goodness toward us. As we become more thankful and worshipful regarding the “works of the LORD” we will begin to enjoy extraordinary pleasures. Psalm 16:11 says,
“I will make known unto you the path of life; in my presence is fulness of joy, at my right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
The closer we are to God, the more we can count on experiencing the fullness of joy and pleasures beyond imagination. It’s waiting for us…all that is needed is some “study” time.
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
Recommended Reading:
House of Love (Ages 9+)
Chateau by the Lake book/audiobook (Ages 12+)
