Do you love God’s Word? I don’t mean the pages or the grammar or even the information conveyed. I mean do you love hearing from the One who made you, and pursued you (as a shepherd does a stray sheep), and rescued you from eternal misery, and embraced you as his own dear child? Do you love hearing God’s voice in Scripture? Delight in God’s Word is a pervasive theme in Psalm 119:
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
47 I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
127 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.
140 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
167 My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
174 I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. (See also verses 70, 92, 119, 143, 159)
Do these statements resonate with you? Do you make time regularly to meditate on the life-saving message of the Bible? Do you block out distractions and focus your heart’s attention on God’s written self-revelation? It takes more than bits and pieces and snippets of Scripture tossed into a multi-tasking lifestyle. The path to joy in the Lord follows the river of unhurried, undistracted focus on his Word. And Bible memory is a vital part of the journey to delight! Let me encourage you: join me this summer memorizing a verse a week from the Psalms. You’ll find that God’s Word is satisfying. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (119:103).
