“my delight”

[Psalms 119:89-96]

                What is your delight?  What is your delight, especially when you are in distress?  In Psalms 119:92, the psalmist confessed: “If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction.”  I hope that God's grace will be given to us as we meditate on what we should be our delight and what we must do in order to be delightful, and what the result of our delight is, under the heading of “my delight”.

            First, what is “my delight”?

                The psalmist's delight was the law of the Lord (Ps. 119:92).  He delighted in His law even in his affliction (v. 92).  Therefore, he said, “I will never forget Your precepts” (v. 93).

            Second, what must we do to delight in the law of the Lord?

(1)   We must consider the law of the Lord.

Look at Psalms 119:95 – “The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Your testimonies.”  The psalmist was diligently considered the law of the Lord as he looked at the wicked who waited for him to destroy him.  In other words, he diligently meditated on the word of the Lord when he encountered a crisis in his life.  Why did he do that?  The reason is because His word revived him (v. 93).  This should become our habit.  In times of crisis, we must cultivate the habit of meditating the word of God more diligently.

(2)   We must seek the law of the Lord.

Look at Psalms 119:94 – “I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts.”  The psalmist sought the law in order to enjoy the law of the Lord, and the reason he sought His law was because he wanted the Lord's salvation.  A true believer puts his hope in the word of God.  Therefore, he finds it without forgetting it (vv.93-94).  During suffering, our only hope is the Lord.  We have no choice but to hope for the word of the Lord during our suffering.  Also, the only thing that can deliver us from suffering is His word.

            Third and last, what was the result of considering and seeking the law of the Lord?

                 The results of the psalmist's considering and seeking the Lord's law can be thought of in two ways:

(1)   As the psalmist considered and sought the Lord's law, he saw the broadness of the Lord's commandment.

Look at Psalms 119:96 – “I have seen a limit to all perfection; Your commandment is exceedingly broad.”  He considered and found the law of the Lord during his affliction, so he was transformed by the power of God's word.  Therefore, affliction is a great opportunity to broaden our hearts with the very broad word of the Lord.

(2)   The psalmist came to confess that the word of the Lord settled in heaven forever.

Look at Psalms 119:89 – “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.”  Suffering is for a while.  However, the word of God is forever.  With that eternal word, God is ruling over heaven, earth, and all things.  The psalmist came to realize this truth by considering and seeking the law of the Lord during his affliction.

                We must enjoy the word of God.  His word must be “my delight”.  Therefore, we must diligently consider His sord.  Especially when we are in crisis, we must consider His word more and more. The reason is because God's word can save us.  Also, we must seek the word of God.  Especially in the midst of trouble and distress, we must seek His word.  What is the reason?  Why should we seek God's word?  The reason is because we want God's salvation (deliverance).  Those who seek God's deliverance must earnestly seek the word of God.  As a result, we will see that the word of God is very broad.  We will have precious grace that broadens our hearts through the power of God's word.  And as we consider and seek the word of God, we will enjoy the grace of standing firmly on the eternal word of God.

After considering and seeking Jesus who is “my delight”,

James Kim

(While enjoying meditation on His word)