GOD’S WORD OUR DELIGHT

“Unless YOUR LAW had been MY DELIGHT, I would then have perished in my affliction” – Psalm 119:92

One of the secrets of abundant life is to make GOD’S WORD OUR DELIGHT: “Unless YOUR LAW had been MY DELIGHT, I would then have perished in my affliction” (Psa.119:92). There are nine references in Psalm 119 to God’s Word being a “delight”! Verse 16 says: “I will DELIGHT myself in Your STATUTES; I will not forget Your word” (v.16). Others are: 24, 35, 47, 70, 77, 92, 143, and 174.

Here are six reasons why it is spiritually profitable for us to delight in God’s Word, law, statutes, testimonies or commandments:

It brings spiritual stability and fruitfulness: “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. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3). Experiencing fruitfulness and oak-like stability in the Christian life correlate to having delight in God’s Word. It is not merely what we avoid (foolish and worldly counsel) that made us blessed, but what we embrace – the Word! He who delights in the counsel of God will be blessed in all he does.

It feeds a desire to do God’s will: “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” (Psa. 40:8). Delighting in God’s Will is tied to a commitment to His Word cherished in the heart: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt. 6:21). Our hearts follow our treasure. The more we treasure God’s precepts by delighting in them “more than gold,” the greater will be our desire to obey the will of God as revealed in His Word (Psa.19:10).

It revives from depression: “YOUR TESTIMONIES also are MY DELIGHT and my counselors. My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word” (Psa.119:24-25). When depression creeps in unnoticed like a thick fog, the piercing light of divine truth will break through with clear objectivity: “Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for YOUR LAW is MY DELIGHT” (Psa.119:77).

It fortifies obedience to God: Make me walk in the path of YOUR COMMANDMENTS, for I DELIGHT in it (v.35). Those who truly delight in His Word will, in turn, possess an intense desire to live in obedience to its precepts. Theirs will be a determined obedience and steadfast adherence to truth, even in the face of opposition: The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep YOUR PRECEPTS with my whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease, but I DELIGHT in YOUR LAW (vv.69b-70).

It nurtures a love for Scriptural meditation: “And I will DELIGHT myself in YOUR COMMANDMENTS, which I love. My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes” (Psa.119:47-48). The more we grow in loving God’s Word, the more it will govern our thinking, and our minds be truly renewed, according to His promise (Rom. 12:2).

It sustains us in times of trial: “Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet YOUR COMMANDMENTS are MY DELIGHTS” (Psa. 119:143). When the trials of life seem to drain every ounce of spiritual, physical, and emotional energy from us, making God’s Word our delight restores strength, ministering to the deepest agony of our hearts, and helping us gain and keep an eternal perspective.

Lord, cause us to delight in Your Priceless Word! Therein we shall find true and lasting Joy!