Delight in the Law of the Lord
By: Anna Lee Mann
There is a belief in today’s society that God’s laws are not relevant in the world we live in. They try to tell us that rules, laws, and commandments are outdated and stifling. God paints a completely different story. Scripture tells us that we should “delight in the law of the Lord” (Ps. 1:2). How do we do that?
The world tells us that we do not need God. It deceives us into believing we can rely on ourselves to make our own decisions. This thought process progresses into a person no longer needing to be regulated by the rules that God instituted. This then leads to many believing we should tolerate others committing sin or not discuss our beliefs because they are seen as intolerant. The psalmist writes in Psalm 1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.” There is a progression there. At first, we may just be passing through, but we put ourselves in the proximity of sin. Once that becomes normalized, we start standing and watching. Eventually, we sit down and get comfortable with the things God has told us to flee from.
Instead of following what society believes, which can end up leading us down the wrong path, we need to focus on finding delight in God’s instruction. Psalm 19:7-11 provides us with a description of the benefits of the law, reminding us that “in keeping them there is great reward”. The word delight can be translated into “gaining great pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness”. Reading, studying, and applying God’s truth to our life will provide that satisfaction in our life that is missing when we try to rely on ourselves.
We delight in the law of the Lord by meditating on God’s word day and night (Ps. 1:2). So many benefits come from meditating on His word. We gain wisdom to encounter any problem because His wisdom is greater than I or anyone else can give (Psalm 119:97-101). We should consult it often, letting it become a guiding light and roadmap for our pathway (Ps. 119:35, 105). It has the power to sustain us with joy through times of despair (Ps. 119:92); to give comfort (Ps 23:4), hope (Ps. 119:81), protection (Ps. 119:114), and victory over sin (Ps. 119:11). We are blessed if we greatly delight in His commandments (Ps. 112:1).
God created laws in order to have a relationship with us and introduce us to Him. His laws show us His character, and we should strive to emulate that same character. In order to know God, we must seek Him in the scriptures. It needs to be a daily part of our lives by reading our Bibles, receiving its message with eagerness, and studying what we read (Acts 17:11). His word corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right (2 Tim. 3:15-17). We delight in the law by trusting in it and obeying it (1 Thess. 2:13; James 1:22).
There will always be pressure from society to change our beliefs in one way or another. But knowing God’s word and delighting in it will help us stay on the right path. As we read Psalm 1, we can readily see that there are two paths or “ways” available to us: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. God’s laws are given to show us the difference between these two paths, and we must choose which way we will go (Deut. 30:15-20).