Delight in God as He delights in you

We have been looking into emotions as portrayed in the Bible at the first of each month in 2023. One verse that I often call to mind when thinking that I must have disappointed God is Zephaniah 3:17, ‘The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.’ He does not rebuke me, but takes delight in me, even rejoicing over me with singing.

How amazing that God delights in me. He delights in you! He does not rebuke you, but rejoices over you. Merriam Webster defines delight as ‘to take great pleasure or keen enjoyment.’ I find it inspiriting that God finds enjoyment in us!

Where do we find delight in the Bible

Delight is found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. As we have just affirmed, God delights in his people. This concept of his pleasure with us is also considered in relation to our obedience (1 Samuel 15:22, Numbers 14:8). God is also described as delighting in certain specific actions – honesty in business, truthfulness, and prayers in Proverbs (20:23, 12:22, 15:8).

Delight is most often used to describe God’s emotions, however there are instances of people finding delight in one another (Proverbs 29:17). God’s people are also encouraged to find delight in what God delights in – his law or word (Psalms 1:2, 119: 24,70,77).

The New Testament references to delight are most often translated ‘pleasure’ or ‘favor’ rather than delight. Verses continue to reference God’s delight in his people and how he interacts with those in whom he finds such pleasure. He fills us with peace (Luke 2:14) and works within those who have pleased him (Philippians 2:13).

As in the Old Testament, we are also encouraged to delight in the law of the Lord. The New Testament focuses on the law within us, how we live it out (Romans 7:22, Colossians 3:18-4:1).

Delight in the Lord and in the law

I’m struck by the repetition of the topics of delight: in the Lord and in the law. This isn’t exclusive, but it is remarkable how many times it occurs between the Old and New Testaments. I guess I am struck because the law is not easy to follow – it is our lifelong struggle. Yet it is a struggle that I undertake with delight, gladly. I find I am most downcast when I am not delighting in following the word of my Lord. Yet saying it aloud is even dissonant – as if law and delight should not go together. Yet, this is when we find peace. We find peace in following the best way, the narrow way. It is true even in secular law that we find peace when everyone walks in the way of the law.

Even with secular or national laws, there are temptations – to go just a bit over the speed limit and arrive sooner is the first that comes to mind. The law of the Lord has its own temptations to not follow it. We all agree that forgiveness is hard as is generosity. Yet, when I do these things, follow His law, I not only delight my God, but find delight in my life in having done it. Thinking of it this way, it is a blessing to delight in the law of the Lord.

Which of his laws are more challenging to follow? I think it is generosity of time for me. This may be the thing I need to learn about ‘present’ (my word of the year) this year. Share in the comments below.