As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. . . .1
Delight. It is defined as 1. a high degree of gratification or pleasure: Joy; 2. Something that gives great pleasure.2 Personally, I take delight in exquisitely prepared food, starting with a colorful presentation and followed by distinct flavors. I also delight in excellent, beautiful architecture. Classical and Modern art impresses me. Beauty catches my attention. Manmade or nature scenes. I am ebbed by the sound of the waves, impressed by the vast horizon. I enjoy basking under a dark, starry night. I take wonder atop a mountain. Seeing wild animals and exotic birds, insects, and flowers startles me. Experiencing snowfall for the first time drew great thrill and brought out the child in me. Learning to ski down a slope was a rush. Also, I recall a visit we made to the National Museum of Natural History at The Mall. As I am not the type to linger through each exhibit, I went ahead of the group. And I found myself alone in an exhibit room of gemstones. I was awestruck! I was reminded of the verse, When I look at . . . the works of your fingers, . . . what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?3 There I was alone weeping, moved by the hypnotic beauty of the colorful stones.
Yes, I take great pleasure in everything good. Valid! Nevertheless, no matter how ecstatic the experience, it is always momentary. Thus, the Bible instructs to delight on Who not What. Delight yourself in the Lord.4
How may one delight in God? Oh, Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!5 Just as taste is developed, taking great pleasure in the Lord requires time and effort. Spiritual disciplines; e.g., daily Bible study, prayer, and fellowship are encouraged until we acquire the habit. Unless God becomes real to us experientially, it is difficult to take delight in Him. Intentionally and persistently he draws us into an intimate relationship with him for our own good. Jesus teaches that the most important command is, Hear . . . The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.6 He is priority!
Interestingly, as we constantly seek God and are immersed in his presence, our perspective and desires change. Whatever will please God becomes our desire. Any wonder why God would say, delight yourself in him? I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, . . .7 Since God is good it pleasures him to give you the desires of your heart.8
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD, my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.9 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!10 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.11
Notes:
1. Psalm 42:1-2
2. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delight
3. Psalm 8:3-4
4. Psalm 37:4
5. Psalm 34:8
6. Mark 12:29-30
7. Jeremiah 32:40-41
8. Psalm 37:4
9. Psalm 84:1-2
10. Psalm 119:103
11. Ephesians 3:14
