Sometimes I wonder for myself and for others, “Where is the joy?” So I thought it would be a good idea to remember what God delights in or rejoices over and consequently where we also can find pure delight and joy. In both the Old and New Testaments, the words for delight have the understandings of “incline to, favor and take pleasure in or well pleased.” As you know, this world is filled with all kinds of “delights” that either do not compare to God’s or inevitably lead to discontent and emptiness over time. And yet, in the midst of struggles, in faith, in parenting, in relationships, at work, in school, in all the days of our lives – God’s pleasure is there for us to receive and enter into. Please “delight in” and reflect on these and let us resolve to seek the delights and delight of our Lord…
“But his delight is in the law (teaching) of the Lord, and on his law (teaching) he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
“For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.” Psalm 149:4
“Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.” Proverbs 29:17
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1
“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me (The Lord), and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” Isaiah 55:2
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10
“I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.” Isaiah 65:19
“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
“And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; in him I delight.” Matthew 3:17
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
Amen.
Discussion Questions
- What are some things you delight in? Are they like or unlike the things God delights in?
- Are the things in which you presently delight “working for you?”
- Going through this list – what are some of the things that God “favors?”
- What are some ways that we can move in our thinking and actions toward things in which God delights?
Living Water 