Psalms 147:10 “He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”
Even the most faithful among us tend to show off our best “horse” [or whatever carnal thing we take pride in] or demonstrate our own personal strength and abilities. Also, by nature, we admire the athletes who have uncommon strength and abilities on the competitive sports fields. Our “LORD” is not impressed at all by these things; but, He “taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy”. Them “that fear him” are those who joyfully recognize our LORD’s Sovereign Power and Authority over all things and willingly submit to His Authority over us. Those “that hope in his mercy” are “those that” humble themselves before Him and worshipfully reflect upon “his mercy” toward us and live in anticipation of Him fulfilling His every promise. In this context, “hope in his mercy” is the confident anticipation of our LORD’s promises to help and deliver us from or through all the tribulations of this present life and to forgive us of sins and to finally take us to His Blessed Heaven; the things that we cannot possibly do or obtain for ourselves. It ought to be our daily quest to worshipfully rejoice in the Holy “fear” of our “LORD” and to not promote ourselves or our carnal things, but to actively trust “in hope in his mercy”; for this faithful allegiance and worship is what our “LORD taketh pleasure in”. Our daily cry, in Godly “fear” and “hope”, ought to be, “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.” (Psalms 79:9)!