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Answer
Psalm 1 contrasts the destructive “way of sinners” (verse 1) with the successful “way of the righteous” (verse 6) and extols the blessings of godliness. According to the psalmist, happiness, joy, and success come to those “whose delight is in the law of the Lord” «But his delight is in the law of the LORD; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. », (Psalm 1:2, ESV). The righteous person “walks not in the counsel of the wicked” (verse 1). In other words, he does not follow the world’s advice but takes pleasure in obeying God and His Word.
The word law here means “a collection of teachings, instruction, or direction.” The “law of the Lord” is often associated with the Ten Commandments or the books of Moses (the first five books of the Old Testament called the Pentateuch). Yet the term can also encompass the whole revelation of truth in the Word of God, as in Psalm 119:1: “Blessed are those . . . who walk according to the law of the LORD”; the “law” here broadly refers to “the precepts and revealed will of the LORD,” according to the Amplified Bible. The author of Psalm 1 appears to have the same expanded meaning in mind. A godly person receives instruction and direction from the full counsel of God’s Word.
The original Hebrew word translated as “delight” indicates “a feeling of extreme pleasure, satisfaction, or joy.” Reading, studying, and applying God’s truth to one’s life is the pleasure and joy of the righteous.
A godly person’s relationship with the Word of God should be like being in love. People who are in love delight in each other. They want to spend time together. They drink in every word they speak to each other. When they are apart, they long to be in each other’s company. That is an illustration of how we should feel about God’s Word.
Believers delight in the law of the Lord.Delighting in the law of the Lord involves meditating on God’s Word day and night (Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8). We frequently refer to it, allowing it to serve as a guiding light and roadmap for our journey, “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight.” (Psalm 119:35, 105) “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:35, 105). We take pleasure in God’s Word because we understand its ability to sustain us with joy during times of despair, “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.” (Psalm 119:92); to provide comfort (Psalm 23:4; Psalm 27:13-14), hope, “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: But I hope in thy word.” (Psalm 119:81), protection, “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” (Psalm 119:114), and victory over sin, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11); and to guide us securely to our eternal home (Psalm 32:8; Psalm 37:23).
Delighting in the law of the Lord entails honoring and cherishing God’s Word (Psalm 119:47-48, 159) because it is an invaluable treasure more precious than “thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”«The law of your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of gold and silver.», (Psalm 119:72); an ever-present companion and friend (Proverbs 6:20-22); the theme of our song throughout life «Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.», (Psalm 119:54); sweet and satisfying nourishment for the soul (Psalm 119:103;Job 23:12); a light in the darkness «We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.», (2 Peter 1:19); “my heritage forever” and “the joy of my heart” «I have taken your testimonies as my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.», (Psalm 119:111); and a life-giver (Psalm 119:25,93;1 Peter 1:23), life-sustainer «But he answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’», (Matthew 4:4), powerful force «For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.», (Hebrews 4:12), liberator
We delight in the law of the Lord by making God’s Word a daily part of our lives; by receiving its “message with great eagerness” “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”, (Acts 17:11); reading our Bibles “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”, (2 Timothy 3:16); studying and searching “the Scriptures day after day” “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”, (Acts 17:11, NLT); letting the Word “correct us when we are wrong” and teach us “to do what is right” (2 Timothy 3:15-17; NLT); hiding it in our hearts to keep us from sinning “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.”, (Psalm 119:11); trusting in it “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”,
(1 Thessalonians 2:13); and obeying it (Psalm 119:4; James 1:22).
Love is at the core of delighting in the law of the Lord as God and His Word become what we are most passionate about in life: “Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long” «O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. », (Psalm 119:97, NLT). God desires to capture our whole hearts with His Word (Deuteronomy 30:6; Psalm 119:10; Matthew 5:8; Matthew 22:37; James 4:8). The picture is one of mutual joy and pleasure in our relationship with the Lord. God delights over His people by blessing them with spiritual abundance and prosperity, “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” «And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. », (Psalm 1:3). And we, in turn, delight in God by loving Him with all our hearts and doing what He says in His Word.
