COV LIFE BLOG

Psalm 1 – The Blessing of Delighting in God’s Word

God’s Word is the daily bread of the “blessed” man—is it so with you? The unregenerate delight in pleasing self—but the joy of the Christian lies in pleasing God. It is not simply that he is interested in “the Law of the Lord,” but he delights therein. There are thousands of people, like those in cults, and, we may add, in the more orthodox sections of Christendom, who are keen students of Scripture, who delight in its prophecies, types, and mysteries, and who eagerly grasp at its promises; yet are they far from delighting in the authority of its Author and in being subject to His revealed will.

The “blessed” man delights in the precepts of the Word. There is a “delight” —a peace, joy, and satisfaction of soul—pure and stable, to be found in subjection to God’s will, which is obtainable nowhere else. As John tells us “His commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3), and as David declares “in keeping of them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:11).

“And in His Law, he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Thereby does he evidence his “delight” therein—where his treasure is, there is his heart also! Here, then, is the occupation of the “blessed” man. The voluptuary thinks only of satisfying his senses; the giddy youth is concerned only with sports and pleasures; the man of the world directs all his energies to the securing of wealth and honors; but the “blessed” man’s determination is to please God, and in order to obtain a better knowledge of His will, he meditates day and night in His holy Word. Thereby is light obtained, its sweetness extracted, and the soul nourished!

How far, dear reader, do you and I resemble this “blessed man”? Let us again press the order of these three verses. Just so far as we fall into the sins of verse 1—will our delight in God’s Law be dulled. And just so far as we are not in subjection to His will—shall we be fruitless. But a complete separation from the world, and wholehearted occupation with the Lord—will issue in fruit to His praise!

A.W. Pink

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SCRIPTURES FOR THIS SUNDAY
Read all 6 verses of Psalm 1. Do you delight in God’s word? What do these verses say about the man who does delight in God’s word? How can you by God’s Spirit then grow in your delight?

SONG FOR THIS WEEK
O My Soul, Arise by Sovereign Grace