Lesson 9: God’s Will is Pleasant
II. Pleasure.
“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

The second demand is for Pleasure. This is a perfectly legitimate demand, because it comes out of the deepest necessities of human nature, and is common to men everywhere, under most varied conditions of life. In all ages, in all lands, and under all circumstances of life, man desires and seeks after happiness. It is doubtful if a single exception can be found to this rule in the ranks of the human family. We hear of such a thing as dissenting; and there are those who have met the protestor.

There are those who seem to have no fellowship with the ordinary pursuits of pleasure, and lack humor of a gentle kind; but it has often been discovered that in some hidden and least expected place they have had their treasure-house of happiness. That it was not of the nature of the things to make other men happy does not matter for a moment. Even if it is granted that there are some human beings who are all that is intended by the word “malcontent,” the true facts of their condition are revealed in the saying that they are only happy when they are miserable, for out of their discontent they are attempting to minister to the universal craving for pleasure.

Man was not made for sorrow. It is, we believe, a Divine minister of blessing, and in many cases comes before gladness; but the changing character of sorrow in the purpose of God is marked by the glorious promise that He will wipe away all tears. The heart of man was made for peace, and joy, and love; and through all the foolish blundering of popular pleasure-seeking, it is after these things that we all seek.


By this also, therefore, we test the laws of life that are given to us. They must secure for us the highest and fullest pleasure; not that which is dreams and momentary, but the deep and the abiding; and the law which most perfectly does this is the best, and to it we will yield our wholehearted loyalty.

Remember from an earlier lesson we read from Matthew 5 how Jesus sets the doing of His Will at the very gate of the kingdom, not as a password but as the condition upon which men may enter. It is not speaking that brings this happiness and pleasure, but action. "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21); and closes with that most wonderful claim for Himself, "Everyone, therefore, who hears these words of Mine, and does them, shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24).

Question: What is the deepest necessity of human nature?
Let’s pray: Lord, we ask that You would make known to us the path of life. We ask You to bring us into Your presence, we seek the fullness of Your Joy. Bring us to Your right hand; we are asking for Your pleasures forever! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Let's reflect on, even memorize: “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” ‒ Psalm 16:11