Delighting in the Word

I've been studying the 119th Psalm and I kept looking at that word "delight" that runs through it. It all revolves around delighting in the word. 

So many phrases caught my attention.

I will delight myself in thy statutes... (vs. 16)

Thy testimonies also are my delight...(vs. 24)

...for therein do I delight. (vs. 35)

And I will delight myself in thy commandments... (vs. 47)

...but I delight in thy law. (vs. 70)

...for thy law is my delight. (vs. 77)

Unless thy law had been my delights. (vs. 92)

...yet thy commandments are my delights. (vs. 143)

...and thy law is my delight. (vs. 174)

I was going through that Psalm and marking all those "delights" with a highlighter and as I was doing that it struck me, well, how can I really "delight" in the Word? I mean, how do you do that?

I know highlighting the words and having all that yellow just jump out at me might help me to remember that it's important, but just how do I go about really "delighting" in the Word?

So I began reading and re-reading that Psalm and some things really struck me throughout it. There was all this advice just laid out for me. Don't you just love it when the Lord shows you something you need right there in front of you and it's been there all the time?

Long For It (Psalm 119:40,131)

I think when we really start longing for the Word that we will make time to read it every day or more than just once a day. 

Memorize it (Psalm 119: 11,52)

I don't think we are ever too old to memorize Scripture. God's Word can comfort us and help us deal with temptation. Bringing Bible verses that we've learned to our minds can help us through so many circumstances in our lives.

Learn it. (Psalm 119: 73, 125)

Studying the Word will help us to learn it. Look up verses. Compare passages n a subject. Use your concordance and really dig into the Word.

Trust it. (Psalm 119: 42, 89, 114)

There's nothing like trusting in the Word of God. It is something that we can cling to. 

Respect it. (Psalm 119: 128. 140,161)

If we are going to really start delighting in the Word, we have to respect what it is.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. - John 1:1,2.

Love it. (Psalm 119: 97, 159)

When you love somebody, you usually delight in them. It's not any different with the Word of God. If we love it, we are going to find delight in it.

Keep it. (Psalm 119: 4, 33, 106)

Keeping the Word is so important as a Christian. If we aren't following what the Word says, we can't be delighting in it very much. 

Rejoice in it. (Psalm 119: 162)

God's Word should be a joy to us. 

They words we found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. - Jeremiah 15:16.

Live it. (Psalm 119: 5, 6)

Another outcome of delighting in the Word had to be living it. That verse in James 1:22 comes to mind. 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Share it. (Psalm 119: 27, 46, 172)

I think about how we share and talk about baseball teams, books, and even TV shows. We even may have to tell someone about a deal we got while out shopping. We excited about and have to tell our friends. 

I hope I get that excitement about sharing God's Word. Its' so much more important. I think  if we delight in it, sharing it has to be an outcome of that delight. 

We can't really even begin to delight in the Word unless we get it out and read it. Just pick a spot and start reading or enjoy a story of on of the Old Testament heroes. Maybe read through the writing of Paul in the New Testament. Start reading through a particular book or chapter. 

Use a daily Bible reading chart if it helps you. Just choose something and read the Word.

I challenge you to read this Psalm and really look at what it is saying. Maybe even read it out loud. You can just see the delight about the Word coming through. 

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!- Psalm 119:103.

I would love to have a delight for the Word of God like that. I have read a lot of Scripture over the years, but after reading through this Psalm several times lately, I really question if I'm really delighting in the Word like I should be.

I think I'm going to maybe have to start making time to read more, memorize more, and really dig more.

So, are you delighting in the Word?

Let's pray:

Father God, 

We come to you to help us to spend more time in Your Word daily. To help us to delight in all that you have planned for us and to share this delight with others. Place it in our hearts to reach for Your Word on a daily basis, whether in our quiet time with you or with family Bible study time. Thank you for giving us the Book of life and helping us see that we should delight in You.

Amen

With Love, 

"B"