Do You Delight in God’s Word?

Prayer – Lord, it is my greatest joy of the day to just sit and read Your scripture…and to dig into the meanings of different words finding them in other verses. There are so many things pulling at my time—cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, just living and taking time for others. Still, You are the joy of my life and I do delight in spending time with You. Open my heart. Give me wisdom and understanding as I try to apply what I read and study. Show me how I can share your word with others. 

A Tree Planted by the River
Yakima River
Near Richland, Washington

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. Psalm 1:1-6

 

Meditate. Delight in God’s word.

 

Delight. That word is still stuck in my head from yesterday’s blog. Do you delight, appreciate, find satisfaction or pleasure, or just enjoy God’s word?

 

When I was about twelve years old, I went through a Confirmation Class at my church, and we had to memorize Psalm 1. It has been a favorite of mine ever since. David was blessed with such wisdom…and conveyed it in writing so many of the Psalms. This one in particular give guidance for right living. I think that’s why our pastor had us memorize it—although at the time it was just an exercise in scripture memory and in fulfilling the requirements to become a church member. Over the years I’ve come to understand the meaning of this passage—and as I’ve contemplated it, I appreciate that God tells me just what I need to be doing and not doing.

Don’t hang out with wicked, evil people, or those who mock God and Christianity. Instead dig into God’s word and find joy in learning about God through studying His word. Meditate—think about what God is teaching you…not just when you read it, but all through the day and night. That should be what you are thinking about as you fall asleep—not the last Netflix movie. David suggests that we should be like a tree planted by a river—where there is an abundance of water. Water is necessary for healthy leaves, for growth, year around so that blossoms form, then the ripe fruit can be harvested. Living in a semi-desert area with less than ten inches of rain a year, I can appreciate how a tree flourishes as it grows on a riverbank.

David goes on to describe evil, wicked people as worthless and doomed to annihilation as a judgment decision. God will ultimately deal with those sinful people who are headed down a road to destruction. They won’t have any place with God’s people. The Lord protects those who believe in Him—the godly people. That’s love. Protection. The Lord watches over the path of the godly…those who seek to know and please Him. They are those who find joy, delight in God’s word.

To live as the wicked or the righteous is a choice each person has the opportunity to make. What is your choice?          

 

Verse of Salvation ~ I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. Psalm 119:174 KJV

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769. Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain. 

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