A Look at Psalm 119:16
Delighting in Obedience
Psalm 119:16 “I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word.”
The Psalmist found his delight in God’s decrees. Decrees are the decisions God has made. Have you ever asked God for directions and found that God actually gave them to you? When He directed you, did you delight in it or did you tolerate it? (Think 10-second rule) I have found many people following God’s decrees, but hardly delighting in it.
I have often come upon a situation where I say something like, “I see you are teaching Sunday school class.” With quite a bit of disappointment in their voices they respond, “Yeah, God wants me to do it, so I have no choice; besides that, nobody else will do it. I’m just doing God’s will.” That may be following God’s decree, but it is a far cry from delighting in it. The Psalmist’s delight was to follow God’s decrees and not neglect His Word.
In
John 15:10-11 we read,
“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Have you discovered the joy of obedience? Do you want to find a sad, frustrated person? Find one that God has given direction to, but who has remained disobedient. The joy of obedience is knowing that we have pleased God. That is why Jesus said that if we obey, we will remain in His love.
When we love God, our greatest desire is to please God. A number of times, during Jesus’ earthly life, a voice came from heaven saying,
“This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The words I look forward to hearing more than any other are,
“Well done, enter into the joy of the Lord.” Our obedience to His decrees and Word will bring us to that place one day. And won’t that just be, “The Best Day Ever?!”
Take a little time today and meditate on this verse. As you do, ask yourself if you truly delight in obedience to God.
Continued
