The Delight of My Heart

(photo credit: wazoo75)

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When people begin to talk about their relationship with the Lord, and their time in the Word and in prayer with excitement and passion, do you find yourself eagerly nodding in understanding and agreement? 

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Or…do you cross your arms and roll your eyes, assuming it must be forced, and phony.  After all, no one is that passionate about spiritual things…at least, no normal person. 

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“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” ~Jeremiah 15:16 (ESV)

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Sounds like another happy-all-the-time, too-good-to-be-true, super-spiritual Christian, right?

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Or does it?

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Jeremiah, if you will remember, was known as “the weeping prophet.”  This is the same man who wrote Lamentations.  Not exactly a happy book.  And, if you look closely at the chapter surrounding the verse above, you will quickly realize that at the time he penned these words, Jeremiah’s life was far from perfect.  Only a few verses earlier, he was wishing that he had never been born!

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But, even in the midst of utter discouragement, he was able to find not just solace, but joy and delight in the Word of God. 

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While “those people” may sometimes seem like a figment of the pastor’s imagination, or like they are putting on a super-spiritual act, they just might be very much for real.  Not because they, or their lives, are perfect…but, precisely because they are not.  They struggle with heartache, disappointment, trials, pain, sin, and discouragement…just like everyone else.  In other words, they are normal.

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God does not require perfection before we are allowed the privilege of sitting at His feet through His Word.  We can come as we are.  “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of should and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Heb. 4:12-13)  Ready or not, when we come to the Word of God, our heart and our thoughts, our motives and intents – in other words, our sin – will be exposed.

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God’s Word is not a list of do’s and don’ts for “good” Christians.  His Word does offer instruction on how we are to live in this world – and correction and rebuke when necessary.  But, it also offers comfort, encouragement, wisdom, joy…nourishment and refreshment – even, no, especially when our souls are dry, parched, and weary from the various trials and battles of life.  That is part of the joy.

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But, it does not become a joy and a delight, and it cannot nourish and revive our hearts sitting on a bookshelf getting dusty.  We must open it.  We must read it.  Only then will we be able to declare with the psalmist “Oh how I love your law! How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” ~Psalm 119:97 & 103