Delighting in the Word
The writer of Psalm 112:1 clearly states that a man is blessed when he fears the Lord and delights greatly in His commandments. The commandments of the Lord are written in scripture. John the Beloved added: for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not grievous (I John 5:3). Have you ever thought of God’s commands, i.e. His Word, to be grievous, causing you sorrow or pain or offense? If so, then you are either struggling with something that is not aligned rightly with the God who created you and loves you dearly, or you have misunderstood God’s Word. Jesus, the Word in the form of man, came to give us life abundantly (John 10:10).
Here are some benefits we can grab hold of by delighting in God’s Word. Delight simply means to take great pleasure in. His Word brings a deep satisfaction to the heart and enlightens our understanding to who God is and what His ways are. The Word of the Lord keeps us from the paths of the destroyer (Ps.17:4). Now that’s an amazingly life-giving benefit! The Word of the Lord has been tried, tested, and proved to be pure, true, right, and trustworthy (Ps.18:30). This world we live in was created and is sustained by the Word of God’s mouth (Gen. 1; Ps. 33:6; John 1:1-3)! All of the angels in heaven listen and respond to God’s voice - His spoken word (Ps.103:20) - in order to follow His instructions. He sends out His Word to heal and deliver us (Ps. 107:20). His Word cleanses our ways, makes us intentional in how we chose to live, and prevents us from falling into sinful things (Ps. 119:9,11). His Word brings life and hope back into us when we feel weary and don’t know how to continue on, giving us enduring and overcoming strength (Ps. 119:25, 28). Through God’s Word He releases His mercies to flow into our innermost being (Ps. 119:41) and brings a clear light to our path so we can avoid missteps (Ps. 119:105). There are so many more verses in Psalms describing the benefit of God’s Word. Isaiah 55:11 sums up those benefits with these words from the Lord: “So shall My word be that goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but shall accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing that I sent it to do.” Now that’s a tremendous promise!
I have found God’s Word a source of gladness in times of heaviness (Proverbs 12:25); a source that helps me look well to where I’m going (Prov. 14:15); giving a purity to what I speak to others and to myself (Prov. 30:5) that shields from harm; and brings the power of King Jesus into whatever situation in life I’m facing (Ecclesiastes 8:4). God’s Word is an everlasting word that has stood through the centuries. To delight in God’s Word is to express trusting confidence in the God who originally spoke those Words penned in the Bible. To delight in His Word gives our Father God access to your heart as His Word is planted in your heart to grow into the overflowing abundance of His life, goodness, and peace. His Word never changes but is established with an on-going transformative power upon our hearts. You can trust your life to God and His Word.
Love,
Wanda