Delighting in God’s Law

(Psalm 1:2)

Mike Johnson

Psalm 1:1 tells us that the person whom God will bless must not walk in the counsel of the ungodly; he must not stand in the path of sinners, and he must not sit in the seat of the scornful.  Then, verse 2 positively describes a righteous person, showing what he does instead of what he does not do.  The passage says, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”  Instead of taking delight in the views and opinions of the scornful, mentioned earlier, he delights in the Law of God.

What we delight in will typically be the center of our thoughts; it will occupy our time and be what we talk about often.  Many people talk about becoming wealthy, their favorite sports team, or a hobby they enjoy.  Why do they do this?  It is because they delight in these.  In contrast, the godly, the blessed person, takes delight in God’s Law, which is the primary focus of his life.

The concept of delighting in God’s Law is also alluded to in Psalm 19:9-10, which says, “…The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” (The NASB says, “drippings of the honeycomb.”)  People desire gold, and many will do almost anything to obtain it.  Also, people typically like honey or at least something sweet.  (We sometimes hear people say they have a sweet tooth.)   Similarly, we must desire the law of God, like people want gold and honey!  We are to crave it.  In Job 23:12, Job said, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”

We further see (2b) it is in God’s Law, “he meditates day and night.” To meditate means to think about, ponder over, focus on, and diligently seek to understand the meaning of something.  The blessed person takes advantage of every opportunity, day and night, to spend time with God’s Law.  When Moses died, as Joshua took over the leadership of the nation of Israel, God told him, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Josh.  1:8).  In Ps 119:15, the Psalmist says, “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.” (Please also note Ps. 119:23 and 143:5-6.)

Do we delight in the law of the Lord?  Do we take great pleasure in it?  Do we meditate on it day and night?  If not, we should!