Delight in God's Word (1 of 5)

On Wednesdays we celebrate “walking in the Word” through study & application of Biblical doctrine. Rightly understanding Biblical doctrine fuels doxology, delight in Jesus, & gospel centered discipleship. Today we begin a survey of the Doctrine of Scripture  (Bibliology), embracing God’s invitation to delight in His word.
 
The Doctrine of Scripture traditionally focuses on (at least) the Bible’s claim to be God’s word, the formation of the cannon of Scripture, perceived inconsistencies, and the “four I’s”: inspiration, inerrancy, infallibility, and interpretation.  Our five-week survey will incorporate much of these topics by elevating God’s invitation to delight in His word and exploring Scripture's sufficiency, necessity, authority, and clarity.  
 
The simple premise in today’s meditation is this: The elevation of the value of God’s word will vault disciples into personally enjoying and engaging God’s Word.   Psalm 119, a creative acrostic poem, will direct us to delight in God and His word by helping us understand value, vision, and vector.

​Value: What value does God’s word claim internally?
Psalm 119 was the vehicle to introduce me to axiology, the philosophical study of value, including the consideration of what gives things value and how we can know value claims are true. Axiology was used in application from Psalm 119 through someone asking two questions intending to interrogate Christian value of God's Word:

1. If you put a bowl of gold in front of a dog alongside of a bowl of food, which would your dog choose? 
2. If you put a bowl of gold in front of a Christian and a bowl with the Bible in it, which would they choose? 

 
Psalm 119 declares God’s word is more valuable than gold and silver (v. 72), yet Christians do not elevate the value of God’s word to this level because we do not believe this value claim is valid. The unfortunate consequence is the devastation of Christian discipleship  because we delight in things other than God and His word.
 
Psalm 119 celebrates the value of God’s word with substantial imagery: God’s word is sure- forever fixed (v. 89), an exceedingly broad path to life (v. 96). God’s word is sweet to the taste, sweeter than honey (v. 103), and the joy of our hearts (v. 111). God’s word is right and wonderful (v. 129), a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (v. 105). God’s word is our heritage forever, more valuable than gold (vv. 72, 111).
 
Do you care more about a heritage of gold, riches for your family? Or a heritage of godliness, delighting in God and His word? 
 
Vision: What does it look like to delight in God’s word?
Delight in God’s word is one theme driving Psalm 119. The Psalmist demonstrates delight in God’s word by elevating God's revelation above all worldly riches (v. 14). Endurance results from delight because disciples will not forget God’s word (v. 16) and we will embrace God’s word as our council (v. 24). Delight in God’s word leads the believer to follow God’s commandments (v. 35) and to love mercy for life (v. 77). When we delight in God’s word, we will long for God’s salvation (v. 174), hungering for His redemptive restoration of all life. Outside of Psalm 119, Scripture helps us see delight in God’s word is a doorway to blessing, (Psalm 1:2) a joy that will become the delight of our hearts (Jeremiah 15:16). When we delight in God's Word we abide in Jesus, and He in us (John 15:1-11), and discover God's word as sufficient, clear, authoritative, and necessary (2 Timothy 3:16​).
 
Vector: What is the  direction of delighting in God’s word?
Delight in God’s word leads to doxology, praise to the God of the word. God's Word satisfies our souls, enlightens our eyes, and joy-fills our hearts because the value claims are valid. It is true! God’s word is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:7-11). But what do we do if we do not see the value of God’s word in this way, or delight in God’s word in any way? Here are some suggested  steps to shape the direction of our delight in Scripture:

1. Delight is directly related to mediation (Psalm 1:2). We will delight in what we meditate on, so prioritize meditation on God’s word. Psalm 1 promises meditation on God’s word will bless you.
2. Delight will ignite through prayer (Psalm 119:18). The Psalmist celebrating the value and delight of God’s revelation makes no hesitation to ask God for help: “Open my eyes, that I may behold the wonderous things of your law!” He goes on to ask for God to incline his heart to His word, demonstrating how delight in the word of God is directly related to dependency on God (Psalm 119:36).
3. Delight will come when we taste and trust God and His word (119:103; James 1:22). The apostle James directs disciples to diligently do God’s word, not to merely hear God’s word. Trust to do will come when we taste what is true, the sweetness of life through God’s revelation in His word.

 
Ultimately, loving God and His word is a response to God’s love for us. God delights in you, and when your faith chooses to embrace this reality, delight in His word will increase. Knowing Jesus and His delight for you, and enjoying Jesus through relationship, transforms studying God and His word from duty into delight. The gospel is true: God values you enough to die for you, counting you more precious than life! God’s delight in you will drive your delight of Him and His word.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you embrace the Biblical claims of the value of God’s word? Why or why not? How is your response evidenced in your habits?
 
-What stands out to you from the vision of delighting in God’s word, what it looks like in the life of the disciple? Which would you like to grow in?>
 
-Where does the vector direct you personally, specific steps to meditate on, pray, and trust God’s word more? Be specific.

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