Delight

“Blessed is the one…whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3).

I tend to focus a lot on grace, and rightly so. It’s God’s grace found in Jesus by which we are saved from our inability to keep God’s righteous commands. God’s Law can never save. Only the Gospel can do that. Still, the Law has value for our lives of faith.

In the passage above, the Psalmist states that he “delights” in the Law of God. I find this choice of words interesting. The Psalmist doesn’t say that he “tolerates” God’s commands, or even that he “appreciates” them greatly. Rather, he states that he “delights” in God’s Law.

So, how does one get to the point where he delights in God’s Law? First, I think, he must understand the Gospel, the good news message that Jesus died for sinners, even for him. Only when the threat of the Law has been eliminated through the sinless life and sacrificial death of the Savior, can an individual truly experience the delight of God’s commands.

Second, in order to delight in the Law of God, a person must realize that God is actually for him and not against him. Once an individual believes that God looks upon him with favor, and that God’s commands are meant to give him the best life possible, he is free to live in accordance with them.

Finally, a person finds his delight in God’s Law when he remains connected to its source, the Heavenly Father. Like a tree that is planted by a stream, he must be rooted in and sustained by God’s holy Word. Only then will he produce the sweet fruit of good works.

May we find our delight in God’s Law. And may we trust even more in his grace.