Bible Thoughts

October 17, 1999

Can you imagine living in a place where God planted the garden? Sometimes, those of us who garden wish that we had some of that soil, sunshine, and moisture they had and a gardener like the Lord! We would not have to fight the weeds, poison the insects, and be concerned about unpleasant weather. What a privilege Adam and Eve enjoyed in the paradise of Eden.

As they viewed the plants, they were pleasant to the eyes. It was a pleasure to look at God's products. Not only did the fruit have an attractive appearance, it was good for them. They did not have to worry about pollution, fats in the blood, and allergies. God took care of them and it made things good and pleasant.

David spoke of a condition that was good and pleasant in Psalm 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Adam and Eve were placed in a paradise of peace. There were no conflicts when the Lord placed them. They had no arguments, no disagreements, and no division when God created them. They were created to have a life free of strife because they were united. It should be no less among God's people in our time.

David experienced division within the kingdom and within his family. He had faced the consequences of behavior that would lead to such a state. Perhaps the unpleasantries caused sleep to escape the king while his anxiety caused him to sorrow over the problems that he faced. One wonders if David often thought of tending his father's sheep and the calm life that brought him peace when he was younger. This leader of the Hebrew nation had been there; he knew the value of peace.

The Psalmist revealed, "Praise ye Jehovah; for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant and praise is comely"(147:1). Can anything be more pleasurable to a faithful disciple of the Lord than expressing in song the praises that God should have? Is it not good and pleasant to assemble with other saints and raise our voices in praise to him that made us? Why would anyone want to neglect any opportunity to have such joyful experiences? The Lord does not care about the how well you may sound to others; the Lord cares about singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs from the heart(Ephesians 5:19). God is attuned to one's desire to praise him, not to the ability to carry a tune. Singing should be good and pleasant to every Christian.

The writer of Ecclesiastes spoke of how good and how pleasant it is to work and finish a task. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun"(11:5-6). What are your feelings when you complete something in which you have invested time and effort? Is it not good and pleasant to your mind(and body) to know that you finished what you started? If it is physical, you peacefully sleep away the weariness. If it is mental, you relax your senses and feel good and pleasant. If it is a spiritual task, do you not know that you are closer to God since you completed something in the Lord's service? And that enables one to have the attitude of the Psalmist, "How good and how pleasant" when one follows the ways of righteousness.

Men, in their humanity, can be confused about what is truly good and pleasant. Eve experienced this problem. She lived in the garden of God and she ate of the wonderful fruits of that garden. In the paradise that God made, all things were for her good(and Adam's). Nothing existed that could spoil their happiness--until--there came an adversary. This enemy of the good and the pleasant induced Eve to believe that a forbidden fruit was "good for food, and that it was a delight(pleasant-jy) to the eyes"(Genesis 3:6). She looked; she took; she sinned. She persuaded her husband also to taste. What appeared to be attractive became their undoing. Now they would be separated from the tree of life and the garden that Jehovah made. They would be cast forth to experience the sweat and tears that continue until this day. What appeared to be good and pleasant turned out to be evil and corrupting. Does such not happen to humanity today?

Isaachar found a good and pleasant land in which to settle. What Isaachar wanted, desired, and claimed became his taskmaster. "Issachar is a strong ass, couching down between the sheepfolds: and he saw a resting-place that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto taskwork" (Genesis 49:14-15). Instead of a leader and strong tribe among the Hebrews, he was a servant of others. The "good and pleasant" way that the tribe of Issachar sought kept them from being a strong and forceful part of the nation. What appears to men to be so desirable from a human standpoint can lead to servitude(a slave to one's desires). The "good and pleasant" way of the majority of men will not be "good and pleasant" later on.

We live in a society that boasts "the good life" for all of its citizens. It is not unpleasant to be able to purchase what one desires; it is not unpleasant to enjoy the offerings of those who would entertain mankind; it is not unpleasant to have one's stomach filled with delicious morsels; it is not unpleasant to be able to live in a nice home and drive a new car; many Christians have a "good and pleasant" lifestyle. "But is that all there is?" was a line from a song of the past. If we measure what is good and pleasant by material standards and how it satisfies the flesh, are we any different from Eve and Adam; or Issachar?

What is good and pleasant in God's sight is measured by whether it makes one a better disciple and how it affects one's spiritual growth. The faithful disciple will seek the paths of Jesus Christ as they live the good life, preparing for a home in a paradise where one finds an eternity of nothing but joy and happiness. "How good and how pleasant" will be Heaven. Don't you want to be in that paradise of God?