I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word (Psa 119.16).
As with so many declarations of the godly soul in Scripture, this text at once sets forth a spiritual trait shared in some degree by all true believers, and also our spiritual goal to be earnestly sought. That is because the psalmist states both his honest testimony and the yearning of his renewed heart. Therefore it is useful both as a test of our sincerity and an exhortation to spiritual maturity. Let us meditate mainly on this verse as exhortation.
God calls you to delight constantly in His Word.
DELIGHT AND REMEMBRANCE
The Hebrew text is only five words, and one is for negation:
[I will delight myself] [in thy statues]:
[I will forget] [not] [thy word].
The first Hebrew words in each line sound similar: shaw-ah, and shaw-kakh (pronunciations). Obviously there is a wordplay here strongly connecting the two ideas of delighting and [not] forgetting. As Thomas Manton observed long ago,
These are fitly suited. Delight prevents forgetfulness; the mind will run on that which the heart is delighted in; and the heart is where the treasure is (Matt 6.21). Worldly men, who eagerly pursue natural interests, forget the Word: it is not their delight. If anything displeases us, we are glad if we can forget it, but it doubles our enjoyment of a thing we like to remember it and call it to mind. A student who dislikes the subject forgets what he is taught; it goes in one ear and out of the other. The teacher who makes lessons stick causes students to delight in what they learn.1
Already we should be convicted and challenged. Do we find it difficult to recall the very words of Scripture passages we have heard, and perhaps even read, many times? After natural hindrances are taken into account, is not a large part of our problem that our remaining sinfulness spoils much of the pleasure that we would otherwise take in God’s Word? Would you not confess a sense of at least occasional tediousness in Bible reading and sermon hearing, like a bored student? This is culpable, an exposure of our shameful carnality.
DELIGHT IN HIS WORD
The Hebrew word for delight is surprisingly expressive.
Ainsworth renders the first clause: I will solace and recreate myself. The pleasure which the renewed heart has in God’s word is great, producing delight; habitual, banishing forgetfulness of it; practical, giving life to piety. . . . The word is very strong. Clarke: “I will skip about and jump for joy.” . . . Dickson: “Spiritual joy in spiritual objects far exceeds any joy in worldly possessions.”2
Surely as a sincere Christian you have known the experience of what might fairly be called euphoria during your best times in the Word! These can and should become more frequent for us. The truly blessed man first described in the Psalter is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that law he meditates day and night (Psa 1.1-2).
Manton offers three counsels to get this joy in the Word. First, get a “suitableness” to the Word. By this he means that there must be a correspondence between the Scripture and your soul: as God’s Word is holy, so you also must be holy if you would love it. And this will never happen without regeneration, the miraculous and instantaneous inner quickening of those dead in trespasses and sins. The gospel calls us to repent of sin and believe in Christ, and when we have complied with these terms by grace, we discover that God has given us a fundamental affinity with the very words of the Holy Bible. If you are totally void of this affinity, you have yet to be born again.
Second, Manton counsels believers to “be in a condition to delight in the word,” that is, to draw near to God experientially, so that your assurance of being in a state of grace is well-founded and strong. Then when you read Scripture, it will not be a message of doom but a promise of God’s favor, both now and hereafter. No wonder unbelievers have no relish for God’s Word because it reproves them in their sins and announces their impending ruin except they repent.
Third, Manton urges, “purge the heart from carnal distempers [figuratively here for diseases; ‘bad constitution of mind’ (Webster’s 1828)]: lust, envy, covetousness, love of pleasures.” These sins thrive when we neglect the Word and wallow in sinful pleasures. “An earthly heart will not delight in spiritual things.” Even true believers are prone to partial apostasy or backsliding, and by faith we must discern this spiritual infidelity toward the Husband of our souls, this flirtation with the world, and deliberately turn ourselves (by grace, of course) back to the Lord and communion with Him, just as married couple estranged by aloofness must, perhaps on the basis of principle alone at first rather than romantic attraction, determine to overcome many distractions and spend private time together. Only then can they reasonably expect that the smoldering embers of marital love will rekindle into a blaze.
REMEMBER HIS WORD
“I will not forget thy word.” This is both a solemn resolution announced in the presence of God and an expression of confident hope for the enjoyment of future grace, on the grounds that sufficient grace has already been granted to cause the psalmist to delight in God’s Word. Such an announcement is itself an expression of faith and glorifies God’s faithful love toward the psalmist. He is not boasting of self-sufficiency but exulting in the constancy of God’s grace to preserve him forever.
We must remember God’s Word intellectually, emotionally, and volitionally—that is, we must purpose to think it (not just think about it), love it, and do it. This is the kind of remembrance that springs from habitually delighting in it. As we take pleasure in it, we will find it increasingly easier to meditate in, sympathize with, and carry out its precepts.
Charles Bridges is so pastorally helpful here:
Means must be used, and helps may be suggested. Watchfulness against the influence of the world is of the first importance. How much of the good seed is choked by the springing thorns (Matt 13.22)! If our hearts are ever refreshed with spiritual delight, we should be as cautious of an uncalled-for advance into the world, as of exposing an invalid’s susceptible frame to a damp or unhealthy atmosphere. Whatever warmth has been kindled in spiritual duties, may be chilled by one moment’s unwary rush into an unkindly climate. We would also recommend increasing attention to the Word . . . the exercise of faith . . . the active habit of love . . . all accompanied with unceasing prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit. . . . Under his heavenly teaching and recollection what delight will be found in the statutes! What blessed remembrance of His Word!3
Brethren, there is no deep, incomprehensible secret to growing in your delight and remembrance of the words of Scripture. The true children of God know what is required, almost intuitively. Spend much time in the Word itself. Cut out of your life altogether every recreation that diminishes your love of Scripture, perhaps even things legitimate in themselves which you have over-indulged. And when that euphoria you knew before begins to return, you will feel glad that you acted on principle to recover delight in God’s Word.
Notes:
1. Works VI.146 (considerably paraphrased).
2. Plumer, in loc.
3. Exposition of Psalm 119, in loc.
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