After Heather’s inspiring message this weekend on why and how we should read/study the Word of God, I went back and read Psalm 119 and was struck by how often the psalmist uses the word “delight” when referring to Scripture. Here is a sampling:
I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. (Ps. 119:16)
Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. (Ps. 119:24)
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. (Ps. 119:35)
And I shall delight in Thy commandments, which I love. (Ps. 119:47)
Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. (Ps. 119:70)
Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. (Ps. 119:77)
If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. (Ps. 119:92)
Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. (Ps. 119:147)
I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. (Ps. 119:174)
Several Hebrew words are used throughout Psalm 119 which are translated “delight” in English, but they all have this basic meaning - “delight, pleasure, to take delight in, to find favor in, to take pleasure.”
I think so often we view Scripture as being a strict list of “dos” and “don’ts” and subsequently can find reading our Bibles to be a laborious task that we “have” to do. While the Bible does set a plumb line for righteous living, it is God’s revelation to us and meant to help us draw into deeper relationship with Him. I think that is where the delight comes from, spending time getting to know our Savior as He tells His story to us and invites us to be a part of it. When we approach reading and studying God’s Word from the perspective of building our relationship with Christ, it becomes time we treasure and something we take pleasure in doing.
Do you find delight in God’s Word?
Good stuff, Sarah. Those verses are so challenging to me!
Heather Z
January 17th, 2008