Delighting in the Law of the Lord
What
sorts of things bring you DELIGHT? For some, they are delighted when they get
to spend quality time with a crush or a mate. For others, it is a delicious
meal at their favorite restaurant. Still others find delight in the victory of
their favorite sports team or their candidate for political office. Some find
delight in personal achievements such as graduations, weight loss, or a
promotion at work. Sadly, many find their pleasure in the ways of sin,
following the ways of the world and the counsel of the wicked.
David
declares here that he finds his greatest enjoyment, pleasure, and gladness in
the law of the Lord. He was a man who loved God’s word and delighted whenever
he could simply enjoy basking in the truth of the Holy Scriptures. In Psalm 1,
he draws a contrast between the person who finds his or her counsel in God’s
word and finds great joy therein versus the person who walks in the counsel of
the ungodly, stands with sinners, and sits with scoffers. And what a contrast it
is!
For
those who forego the pleasures of God’s truth and choose instead to find their
gratification in worldly pursuits, the future is bleak. They are like “the chaff which the wind drives
away.” This analogy of the wheat chaff carries the idea of being
here-today-and-gone-tomorrow. They have no staying power and will one day be
blown away by the judgment of God. Those who choose sin over holiness and
self-gratification over Divine blessing will not stand on the day of judgment.
BUT!
Those of us who find delight and pleasure and enjoyment in the word of the Lord
are destined for an eternity of blessing. Unlike the chaff which is blown away,
the delighters in God’s truth are strong and fruitful. They are like trees
planted by the rivers of water bearing fresh fruit every month, never
dropping a leaf, always in blossom. Choosing to follow Jesus and to be doers of
His word is by far the greatest choice any person can make.
Do the Scriptures delight you? Do you find your greatest
enjoyment, pleasure, and gladness in those moments spent with God in His word?
If so, your life will be strong and fruitful for His eternal kingdom. “For
you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills
before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall
clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)
If not, it isn’t too late to turn away from your worldliness
and turn back to the fresh water of His word in your soul. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call
upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous
man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord,
that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly
pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)