We are given glimpses of what it is like to delight in the Lord in several places in the Bible. One of those is a love poem written by King Solomon, which we call Song of Solomon or Song of Songs. It is filled with sweet talk between a man and a woman who delight in each other.
That book gives us lovely phrases often used by Christians such as:
“My beloved is mine and I am His” Song 2:16
“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me is love.” Song 2:4
“Draw me and I will run after you” Song 1:4
In Solomon’s poem, and in other places, we find the idea of delighting in God’s name, such as linking the Lord’s name to sweet perfume.
“Because of the aroma of your good ointments your name is as ointment poured forth, therefore the virgins love you.” Song 1:3
The Name of the Lord is celebrated much in the Bible, declaring the might and power of that name and the many benefits we get through God’s name.
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are protected.” Proverbs 18:10
“I proclaim the Lord’s name. Ascribe greatness to our God.” Deuteronomy 32:3
“Your name, O Lord, endures forever. Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations.” Psalm 135:13
“And these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will expel devils” Mark 16:17
“Verily, truly, I say to you, Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” John 16:23
So it is no wonder Christians find the Name of Jesus lovely and precious to them.
Hymn writer John Newton put the idea of the Lord’s lovely name into his 1779 hymn, “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”.
“How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, and drives away our fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole and calms the troubled breast;
’tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary, rest.”
Other hymn writers have written “Jesus is the sweetest name I know” and about “The Sweetest Name on Earth”.
In recent history Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote a lovely song “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, There’s Just Something About That Name”.
This idea of the name of the Lord being something sweet is not just a nice idea to sing about. It is a truth those close to the Lord enjoy regularly.
I guess we can parallel that to children who are fearful and disturbed, who hear their Daddy arrive to sort things out. The sound of his voice, and even the announcement of Daddy’s arrival, soothes their fears, settles their heart, and is sweet in their ears.
I recall when I first encountered Christians who had a sweet relationship with the Lord. I could not relate to what they were experiencing. My connection with God was intellectual, understanding Bible ideas and choosing to believe in them. And it was practical, about what I had to do and how well I did it.
The idea of just sitting in God’s presence, resting in a tangible sense of God’s love, enjoying relationship with God was weird to me. I would much rather have had a theological discussion.
But in a truly loving relationship a child might simply nestle into their parent’s embrace, or sit silently on a long drive, just enjoying being with family. Or sit beside a parent or loved one, reading a book or doing some activity, while being nourished by being close to those important to them.
So why can’t we enjoy that level of sweet connection with God? Why would we not delight in being near Jesus? Why would we not find it enriching to sit in His presence? Why would we not want to be recharged and refreshed by sweet time with the Lord?
And why would we not want to enjoy the sweet name of the Lord? How wonderful it is to find that the presence of the Lord and just the mention of His name is beautiful beyond description.
Another key to the Name of the Lord is that it reveals and releases God’s character, such as His power, grace and greatness.
God explained to Moses that God would reveal something more about His character through the miracles He did with Moses. God was already well known, but had not been revealed in His character of Deliverer (Jehovah) before.
“I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by the name God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah (Deliverer) was I not known to them.” Exodus 6:3
God then revealed Himself as provider, defender, peace and so on, linked to His name Jehovah, or Deliverer.
As we love the Name of the Lord and let it be sweet to us, we can discover the richer power of God released to us by the ongoing revelation of Who God is.
So friends you have several good reasons to delight in the Name of the Lord. It reveals Who God is, and it is our Safe Place to run to for victory and protection, and it is the sweetest name on earth.
I urge you to let yourself enter sweet relationship with God through Jesus, and to pursue that relationship, seeking to always be close to the Lord. And as you do, may you delight to say, Oh How Sweet the Name!
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