Delight, Psalm 37:4

The purpose of this entry is not to preach, or teach what I initially know of the word delight, but to share in the process of dwelling, meditating, and studying one of God's truths and promises in my life. I pray that as this entry is read, that the Holy Spirit may continue to prosper the development and understanding of God's Living Word in our lives.

As the world knows delight:

Oxford American Dictionaries
delight |diˈlīt|
verb [ trans. ]
please (someone) greatly : an experience guaranteed to delight both young and old.
• [ intrans. ] ( delight in) take great pleasure in : they delight in playing tricks

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Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord, for He will give you the desires of your heart.

But how do we delight in the Lord? What does that look like? Let's look at other passages of God's Living Word to better understand the meaning of delight.

pliable |ˈplīəbəl|
adjective
easily bent; flexible : quality leather is pliable and will not crack. See note at flexible .
• figurative easily influenced : pliable teenage minds.

I think it is so interesting that "will not crack" is a part of the American dictionary's definition of pliable. We use this term, "Don't crack under pressure," so often, but we don't exactly associate the word pliable to the situations where we hear this common phrase. Usually "Don't crack under pressure" is expressed when there are high expectations, adrenaline, or a competition is at hand which requires our complete focus and locked attention instead of deeply thinking about being soft or pliable. 

So if we reconnect this idea of pliability to the initial verse: (Pliably) Delight yourself in the Lord, for he will give you the desires of your heart. 

This translates to me:

Will not crack, will not depart, will not break from God

Delight yourself in the Lord

 You, do not crack, do not depart, to not break from the Lord, for he will give you the desires of your heart.

 I am reminded of steadfastness.

So, if delight means to be soft, delicate, dainty, or pliable, then how does that look in our daily walk with the Lord?

Job 23:10-12 [ESV]

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

¹¹ My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
¹² I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

The Promises in Delighting in the Lord

Psalm 37:11 [NASB]

But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity (peace, ESV).

Isaiah 58:14 [NASB]

Then you will take delight in the LORD, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 60: 10-14 [NIV]

“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. 11For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance.” 12For this is what the Lord says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. 13As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” 14When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes.

If you have any prayerful-feedback or Scripture that may further my understanding of how God intends for us to Delight in Him, please feel free to leave a comment.

References:
 Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for `anag (Strong's 6026)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 7 Jun 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
Strongs=H6026&t=KJV >

Strong's Hebrew Lexicon. "Delight". http://www.eliyah.com/cgi-bin/strongs.cgi?file=hebrewlexicon&isindex=delight
Simons, Keith. Job, a Servant of God. " Wycliffe Associates. 2005. http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/job-lbw.htm

Ephesians 4:22-24

... lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the will of God, that which is good, acceptable, and perfect.

Psalm 4:7-8

You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.

Psalm 5:11-12

But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.
For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 2:19

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."

2 Timothy 2:15

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:1

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:14

Guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

Luke 14:33

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:26-27

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters---yes, even his own life---he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.

John 8:31-32

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 15:7-8

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Joshua 3:2-4

As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.

Acts 2:22-24

Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.