DELIGHT IN GOD’S WORD (1)

“I WILL DELIGHT myself in YOUR STATUTES; I will not forget YOUR WORD” – Psalm 119:16

An important attitude every Believer in Christ should imbibe and consistently display is DELIGHT IN GOD’S WORD: “I have rejoiced in the way of our testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I WILL DELIGHT myself in YOUR STATUTES; I will not forget YOUR WORD” (Psa.119: 14-16). To delight in God’s Word means to take pleasure in receiving His Word:

God’s Word is the daily bread of the “blessed” person: “BLESSED is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but HIS DELIGHT is in the LAW of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psa.1:1-2). The “blessed” person delights in the precepts of the Word. There is a “delight” – a peace, joy, pleasure, and satisfaction of soul – pure and stable, to be found in submission to God’s will, which is obtainable nowhere else. As John the beloved wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jh.5:3).

Psalm 1:2 says, “And in His Law, he meditates day and night.” That’s how the blessed man manifests and proves his “delight” in the Word – where his treasure is, there is his heart also! This is the occupation of the “blessed” believer. The hedonist or pleasure-lover thinks only of satisfying sensual drives; the giddy youth is concerned only with excitement and entertainment; the man of the world directs all his energies to the securing of fortune and fame; but the “blessed” believer’s determination is to please God, and in order to obtain a better knowledge of His will, he meditates day and night in His holy Word. There, he obtains light and life, extracts sweetness, and nourishes his soul.

While the joy of the Christian lies in pleasing God, the unregenerate delight in pleasing self. It is not simply that the blessed person is interested in “the Law of the Lord,” he or she DELIGHTS therein. There are of course some religious folks, including some in mystical cults, who are keen students of Scripture, who research its prophecies, types, and mysteries, and who eagerly grasp at its promises; yet they are far from delighting in the authority of its Author and in being subject to His revealed will. Having delight in God’s Word is not a superficial emotion, but deep-rooted submission to the Word, to guide how, where, and with whom we walk, stand, and sit – our associations (Psa.1:1). This depicts a whole-hearted occupation with the Lord and His Word that leads to divine planting, fruitfulness, and prosperity (Psa.1:3).

The Psalmist prayed: “With my WHOLE HEART I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!” (v.10). Next, he spoke of HIDING God’s Word in his heart, like a Precious Treasure, in order not to sin against Him (v.11). He rejoiced in the way of God’s testimonies (God’s Word) “as much as in all riches” (v.14). He set his will to “meditate” and “contemplate” on God’s precepts and ways (v.15). The psalmist reiterated his delight in the Word: “Your testimonies also are MY DELIGHT and MY COUNSELORS” (v.24).

To the taste bud of the Redeemed, God’s Word is sweeter than honey: “How SWEET are YOUR WORD to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Psa.119:103). Jeremiah 15:16 says, “YOUR WORDS were found, and I ate them; and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” Coming to the Word with the right attitude will result in Joy and Rejoicing! Apostle Paul testified, “For I DELIGHT in the law of God according to the inward man” (Rom.7:22). That is, “My inner being delights in the law of God.” God desires that we derive more joy and pleasure from reading, studying and meditating in His Word than from anything else!