In Song of Solomon, the Lord says of his bride: “How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!” (Song of Solomon 7:6, NKJV).
These words describe Jesus’s thoughts toward his bride as he beholds her. He looks at her and says, “How beautiful, sweet and delightful you are. You are precious to me, O love!” Then the bride boasts, “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me” (Song of Solomon 7:10). The meaning here is that he runs after me with delight and chases me because I am so precious to him.
These same thoughts are found throughout the book of Psalms: “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his mercy” (Psalm 147:11), and “For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he will beautify the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149:4).
Understanding that you are precious to the Lord is the key to your deliverance from every battle that rages in your soul. It is the secret to entering into the rest God has promised you. Until you lay hold of it and it becomes a foundation of truth in your heart, you will not be able to withstand what is ahead in this wicked time.
Isaiah had a revelation of God’s great delight in us. He prophesied to Israel this word from the Lord: “O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you’” (Isaiah 43:1-2).
Isaiah was not talking about a literal flood or fire. He was talking about what the people were going through spiritually and mentally. At that time, they were in captivity; the floods were trials, the fires were temptations, and the rivers were testings. The devil attempted to destroy and overwhelm God’s people.
Isaiah’s words were a message of pure mercy to Israel. They were in captivity because of their own stupidity and foolishness, and they deserved nothing. However, God sent them a weeping, brokenhearted prophet who said, “God wants me to tell you that you belong to him!” Beloved, receive those words today. You belong to God, and he delights in you!