Delight as Route and Result

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass…

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land…
But the meek shall inherit the land
    and delight themselves in abundant peace…

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord upholds his hand.

I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging for bread.
He is ever lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.” Psalm 37:1-9,11,23-26

David knew well the varied emotions of full seasons of life, and the true source and joy of delight. In the punch and swing of intense days, brothers who mocked his youth, anointing bestowed yet awaiting fulfillment, a king who turns from admiration to hatred, his Lord was steady and faithful. As he learned to delight in Him over circumstance, His ways over what the world might dictate, the delights of peace and divine favor flooded his soul.

It takes determination and consistency to delight in the Lord. Many an allure whisper our names, myriads of distractions pull us into the world and its amusements and ideas. When we choose to entertain those temptations that vie for our attention, we may find temporary pleasure, but never lasting delight. However, when we make a commitment to seek the Lord and His ways, to take genuine delight in Him, in His majesty and grace and might, our souls find deep rest and joy. He plants the desire and honors our discipline. (Isaiah 26:3; Hebrews 11:24-25)

Do we find ourselves restless, chafing under pressure, in a delight drought? Do we seek immediate achievement, satisfaction, and applause in transient things? Or do we shape our days to include significant attentiveness to the Lord and His word? How willing are we to wait on His timing and direction? What primarily motivates our plans- the desires of our heart, or delight in the Lord who designs and tempers them?

“When we walk with the Lord 
in the light of his word, 
what a glory he sheds on our way! 
While we do his good will, 
he abides with us still, 
and with all who will trust and obey. 

But we never can prove 
the delights of his love 
until all on the altar we lay; 
for the favor he shows, 
and the joy he bestows, 
are for them who will trust and obey.” ~John Sammis (1887)

Lord, may I ever delight in You, to Your glory. (Psalm 149:4; Zephaniah 3:17)