DELIGHT IN THE WORD OF GOD

Proclamation:

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of The Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night.  That person … whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

Explanation:

This psalm was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God and the human author is generally agreed upon to be King David.  It begins in the same manner which Jesus, The Christ, began His Sermon on the Mount.  “Blessed is the man …” has been rendered happy and blessed is this man in things temporal and spiritual, in this world, and in the world to come.  This man does not hang out with ungodly sinners.  He finds joy in The Word of God and he meditates on that both day and night.  Whatever he does in faith and in love to the glory of God will prosper.

Application:

What do we really delight in doing?  I am sure that we delight in a number of things.  The question is, 'Do we delight in reading and hearing The Word of God?'  Most Christians would say that they do, but our actions speak louder than our words.  We should enjoy, take pleasure in, and receive great satisfaction from reading the Bible.  This verse suggests that the 'blessed man' reads and meditates, reflects on or ponders, God's Word at least twice each day, "... day and night."  Do we think about and study the Bible twice each day?  We say that we love The Lord, but some of us only want to talk about Him or hear about Him once a week.  It has been said that some of us only open our Bibles on Sunday mornings, and maybe again on Wednesday night for Bible study. That's only twice a week and not twice a day.  Let us commit to praying and reading our Bible twice each day, the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.  I am sure that would please God, and pleasing God is a good thing to do.  Who knows, we might be like the “blessed man” and whatever we do will also prosper.  We should pray that The Good Lord will restore to us the joy of salvation and grant us joy, wisdom, and understanding as we read and study His Holy Word.

Think Of The Great Things That God Has Done

"Great are the works of The LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.  Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever."  Psalms 111:2-3 (NIV)

Here the psalmist exalts the works and deeds of God.  He also states that those who love The Lord marvel at His works, and are awe struck by them for they are glorious and majestic.   

When we consider what God has done, all of His wondrous creations, His mighty acts, His protection and His provisions, His healing and His love, His grace and mercy, it is no wonder that we are impressed, confounded, humbled and respectful.  Just think of what He has done for you from conception up until this very minute.  Who would not serve a God like our God.

Some Blessings Are Based Upon Our Choices

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of The LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night."  Psalms 1:1-2 (NIV)

The author of this psalm clearly states that some blessings are based upon individual choices.   Blessings come to those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand with sinners, or sit with those who mock The Truth.  Blessed is he who delights in The Word of God, and who meditates on it day and night.

Some blessings we receive just because God is who He is and He chooses to bless us even though we do not deserve to be blessed.  Each heart beat, each breath, each thought, and each of our bodily functions is a blessing.  However, there are some blessing we receive based upon what we choose to do or not to do.  Hanging around the people that we choose to be with, when we know that they are up to no good, can cause us to miss out on some blessings that God had prepared for us.  Reading, studying, and reflecting on The Word of God twice each day will result in special blessing for us.  Let us pray that we will make better choices in the upcoming year, and that we will spend more time reading the Bible.

Read More Meditate More And Talk More About God

"Love The LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV)  ("The LORD" is used in place of the Hebrew word "YHWH" which some people pronounce "Yahweh" and others will not pronounce at all.)



The prophet Moses told the people that they should love The Lord completely, with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength.  The Lord's commandments should always be in their hearts and on their minds.  They should teach them to their children.  This is what they should talk about all of the time, where ever they are, at home or walking along the street.

Today, God should always be on our minds and in our thoughts.  He should consume our entire being.  We should read and meditate on His Holy Word day and night.  We should teach His Word to our children, and we should be living examples of it.  Our conversations with our family and friends should include references to The Word of God.  Everyone that encounters us should see evidence of God in us.  Our behavior and our conversation should reflect The Spirit of God that is within us.

DO WE REALLY DELIGHT IN THE WORD OF GOD?

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of The Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.” Psalms 1:1-2 (NIV)


The psalmist first describes the people that believers should avoid: the wicked, sinners, and mockers. Then he describes what the believer should delight in The Word of God, and states how often he should meditate on it.

Do we really delight in The Word of God? When we read His Word do we take great pleasure in it, does it bring us joy, does it make us happy, and does it give us a sense of satisfaction? How often do we read The Word of God? Here the psalmist suggests that the man who reads The Word of God twice each day, morning and night, is blessed. We need God’s help in delighting in His Holy Word. We have not because we ask not. (James 4:2) We should pray to God and ask that He would create in us receptive hearts and minds so that we might receive His Word with gladness, joy, and delight. We were all charged to share The Word of God with others. It is much easier to share with others something that we ourselves enjoy and are really enthusiastic about.

Success And Prosperity

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

After the death of Moses, God chose Joshua to lead the people. He gave Joshua instructions and told him that He would be with him as He was with Moses. One of the things He told Joshua was to meditate on The Word of God daily and to follow its teachings. Obeying God's Word would lead him to prosperity and success.

A lot of people want to be prosperous, but they are not willing to do the things that will lead to prosperity. We have the recipe for success, we just need to follow the instructions. If we would read and study The Bible, day and night, and follow the directions given within it, we too would be prosperous and successful.

You Are Also A Leader Of God's People

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law My servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:7-9 (NIV)

After the death of Moses, The Lord said to Joshua, "Moses my servant is dead. Now then ... As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:1-5) Joshua was to lead the people into the promised land. These were the words of encouragement and the directions that The Lord spoke to Joshua. God chose him to lead the people.

If anyone follows you, listens to your advice, and if what you say or do influences anyone, then you are also a leader, and as such you have the responsibility to say and do the right thing, so as not to lead them astray. The best way to do that is to be sure that you follow The Word of God. Read, study, meditate, think about, recite, talk about, and live God's Word, and you will be prosperous, successful, and a good leader because God will be with you wherever you go.