God’s Delight

“God’s Delight”
Based on Psalm 18
By Michelle Rocker

My little rowboat careened out of control. The sea tossed me as if I were a mere feather that was tickling its nostril. I clung to each side of the boat, my knuckles white. Demons mocked me. Their beady eyes glowed in the darkness, and their taunting laughter collided with the thunder.

I was so gullible. I thought I knew what was best. Would I ever learn? How many chances did I have left? I lifted my face into the stinging rain. Was He up there? Did He care anymore?

The demons laughter grew louder. I covered my ears to shut them out. I slumped to the bottom of my little boat, and waited for my watery grave to claim me. The next wave hurled me to the top of its crest. It threw me into its depths; my little boat trembled, shook, and broke apart. I grabbed a broken plank and hung on for what was to be the last seconds of my life.

“God, are You there? Hey, it’s me. I messed up again. I’ve made a real mess of things this time. Do you see me? Don’t you see that I can’t win? This storm is too big for me. It’s my own fault, I know. I threw the compass overboard, oh and the map too. I didn’t think I needed it. Worse, I didn’t think I needed You. Can I still be Your child? Is it too late for me? DO YOU HEAR ME? I need you!”

One by one the demons crossed in front of my site. Their eyes played images of my demise. Hurling insults, degrading words – all correct – all deserved, right?

Unexpectedly, a booming crash of thunder blazed from the sky. The clouds parted and a streak of light bolted from the center. A beautiful luminosity, surrounded by angels descended. Clamped around the glimmering lightning bolt was a cloak of darkness that carried a storm far more severe then the one I was experiencing. How could something be so beautiful and terrifying all at the same time?

As the vision neared me, I realized the light was not a lightening bolt, but God himself coming down. He untied his cloak of darkness and flicked it toward the surging sea of ghouls. Hailstones, lightening, and wind-driven rain descended toward us all. I looped my arms around the board and covered my head as if to shield off the menacing insult. I heard the demon’s screaming in pain around me. Could I survive God’s wrath? I peaked and encountered all of God’s fury unleashed, but not an ounce of it was near me.

Astonished I watched arrows emanate from all around Him. A blast of fire discharged from his mouth, “You shall not harm her. This is my child, and mine alone.”

He was so angry, the controlled anger that could emit fear into the bravest of souls. But none of it was directed at me. It was at all of my enemies. As His arms descended, the water parted into walls on all sides. His glare turned toward me, but when His eyes burned into my soul, I only saw tenderness, love, and forgiveness. Holding out His everlasting arms, He lifted me from the jowls of the demonic sea.

I did not question where He was taking me. Questioning His will is what got me into my mess in the first place. He took me to a place I did not recognize. I thought I would feel comfortable, but then I realized I was missing the point. This is where He wanted me, the center of His will. No harm could befall me. He was in control. He truly cared and wanted the best for me.

I could not resist asking Him the one question burning on my mind. “Why? I have let You down so many times, and I told You I didn’t need you? Why did you rescue me again?”

Gazing up into His fathomless peace, He whispered to my heart, “Because, I delight in You.”

Psalm 18, by far, is one of my favorite scripture passages. It shows God off as the superhero that he is. I love the idea of God being way up in heaven, and hearing my prayer of fear. He has the “spidey sense.” His “wolverine” claws appear. He turns green with his righteous indignation that someone would dare touch one of his children. He flies down from heaven in his “batman” cloak. It was evident that he is a “superman” with super strength.

The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him- the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

~Psalm 18:4-19 NIV

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