Psalm 1 says that the godly man avoids sin. Instead, "His delight is in the law of YHWH, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psa 1:2) David wrote, "Delight yourself in YHWH; and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psa 37:4). Now, that's something, isn't it? There's something different in the word "delight" that is beyond mere "enjoy." It means great pleasure -- "a high degree of gratification."
According to the Psalms, we're supposed to delight in the law of YHWH. Strike that. Replace it with the definition. We are supposed to find a high degree of gratification in God's law. Really? We're supposed to find great pleasure in God. Note the promise that accompanies that. If we find our highest pleasure in God, He will give us what we desire. Of course, that's not a "health and wealth" gimmick. Obviously if our greatest joy is found in what God wants, then He'll give us our heart's desire -- what God wants.
The concept of this kind of response to God -- delight -- is throughout Scripture. He isn't our task master. He isn't just our ruler. His intent is that He would be our highest joy. Is He yours? Do you delight in the Lord? How much? What do you delight in? If not Him, what? And why not Him? It goes beyond acceptance or connection. He wants to be our greatest joy. When He is, we will find greater joy.
As Piper says, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." Far too often we see obedience as a burdensome duty. But if our Designer knows best how the things He created should operate, then obeying His law should bring us joy and pleasure beyond what sin can offer. If only I could remember that more often.
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