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.
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
Simons, Keith. Job, a Servant of God. " Wycliffe Associates. 2005. http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/job-lbw.htm
