Delighting in the Word - Carla D Burnette

Has reading the Bible turned into a chore?  Something you must do rather than something you enjoy. Please know this is a common struggle Christians face, so you are not alone. Don’t give up reading the Bible, for it is possible to rekindle the joy again. 

Let’s discover how by unpacking the truths found in Psalm 1:2-3 (ESV). It says: “…his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. ³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

(NOTE: All definitions are from Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, unless otherwise specified)

V. 2a: “…his delight is in the law of the Lord”

First, we learn his delight is in the law of the Lord, which is God’s Word. Delight means “source of great pleasure, joy”. Strong’s Concordance defines delight in this verse as “a valuable thing, a thing desired”.

We know the Bible as the written word of God. Have you truly realized how valuable and precious His Word is to us? In the Bible, we learn what God is like, what His promises are for us, how He sees us, interacts with us and how we are to live. 

If time in the Word is not a source of great pleasure or joy, pray it will be. Ask that you would crave spending time in the Word. Additionally, try approaching your time in the Word as a treasure hunt. Search for what the passage reveals about God and His character.  

With the Lord’s help, we can be excited again to spend time in the Word.

The Moody Bible Commentary depicts the person in verse 2 as someone whose “greatest joy in life is to think about, fill His mind with and obey the Word.”

May this describe us as well.

V. 2: “…his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night.”

Not only is the Word his delight, but he also meditates on it. Meditate means “to contemplate, consider thoroughly, think deeply about, reflect, ponder, study”.

Don’t just hurriedly read through the Word. Slow down to grasp what the passage says. Then ponder or meditate on what you read throughout the day. Pray for the Spirit to remind you of the Word and to provide understanding of the Word. 

Warren W. Wiersbe gives us further insight on meditation. He states, “What digestion is to the body, meditation is to the soul.”

Let’s go deeper into his statement. We know that digestion breaks down our food in order for our bodies to absorb the nutrients. Similarly, meditation breaks down the Word in order for our souls to absorb its meaning. This results in nourishment for our souls like food for our bodies. 

I desire for my soul to be nourished, don’t you?

V. 3a: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water”

When we delight and meditate on the Word, then we will be like a tree planted by streams of water.

Notice the tree is planted by streams of water. Planted means “settled or rooted”. Why planted by streams of water? Trees require light, water, and nutrients to grow and bear fruit. Its roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil where it is planted. Thus, the tree is settled or rooted by the source of its provision. 

Just like a tree, we need water and nutrients too. Jesus says in Matthew 4:4, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Since the Word is living water and nutrients to our souls, let’s plant or root ourselves in it. 

V. 3a-b: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.”

As a tree yields or bears fruit, so do we. Jesus explains the concept of bearing fruit in John 15:4-5 (CSB), “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.”

When we remain in Jesus as this passage declares, we bear fruit. Jesus is also known as “the Word” in John 1:1. Therefore, when we remain in the Word, we bear fruit. The opposite is also true. Without Jesus, the Word, we are unable to bear fruit. 

What type of fruit do we bear? Galatians 5:22-23a tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”.

Don’t we desire to display this type of fruit and bring glory to God? We want people to see Jesus in us and for them to realize they need Him. Jesus tells us in John 15:8 (CSB), “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” 

May we aspire to be women who radiate God’s character no matter what season of life we are experiencing. Not women withered and parched due to lack of nourishment from the Word. Let’s root ourselves in Jesus, the Word.

V. 3c: “In all that he does, he prospers.”

Lastly, we prosper in all that we do as a result of delighting and meditating on the Word.

According to The Moody Bible Commentary, “the word ‘prospers’ primarily refers here, not to immediate material prosperity, but to success – that is, spiritual success in one’s life through applying and adhering to ‘the law of the Lord’ (v.2).” 

Don’t we desire to thrive and flourish, pleasing God in all we do? 

Ladies, let’s decide to delight in God’s Word and meditate on it. Then, we will be firmly planted like a tree bearing fruit that brings glory to God.

Father, thank you for Your Word that nourishes our souls. Help us to delight in it and to devote time to study it. We pray for the Holy Spirit to remind us of Your Word throughout the day and to give us understanding of Your Word. We desire to bear much fruit and bring You glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ideas/Resources for Studying the Word:

• A Study Bible or Life Application Study Bible in the translation you prefer
• How to Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur, David Arthur and Pete De Lacy
• Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
• Sequential or chronological reading plan through the Bible
• Study guides for books of the Bible in The New Inductive Study Series by Kay Arthur and other authors.

Additional Scripture References for Further Study:

Jeremiah 17:7-8, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. ⁸ He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought,  for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Psalm 92:12-14, “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,”

Psalm 19:7-11, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

Comment below what stood out to you in this post and let me know how I can pray for you.