Thy Law Is My Delight

Q: What does the Bible say about God's affliction and comfort?

God afflicts His people in faithfulness and uses affliction to teach them His will. The Bible teaches that affliction is an expression of God's faithfulness. David acknowledges in Psalm 119:75 that the Lord's judgments are right and that he has been afflicted in faithfulness. This means that God, who made us, understands our trials and uses them to mold us into His likeness. Affliction often serves a purpose, like teaching us His statutes (Psalm 119:71), ensuring we lean on Him for wisdom and understanding. When we seek comfort from the same God who has afflicted us, we recognize His merciful kindness as the source of our true comfort and life.

Q: How do we know God's judgments are right?

We know God's judgments are right because they are rooted in His perfect nature and sovereignty. In Psalm 119:75, David explicitly states, 'I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right.' This assertion comes from an understanding that God is sovereign and His decisions are always aligned with His holiness and righteousness. God's judgments reflect His character, which is utterly just and faithful. Even when we cannot comprehend our circumstances, we can trust that God's plans and purposes are ultimately good, as He is the Judge of all the earth who will do what is right (Genesis 18:25). This conviction forms a foundation for our faith in every situation.

Q: Why is delighting in God's word important for Christians?

Delighting in God's word is essential as it embodies our love for Him and shapes our spiritual life. Delighting in God's word is fundamental to Christian life because it is through His word that we understand His will and grow in faith. Psalm 119:77 states, 'For thy word is my delight.' This delight is not merely an emotion but a profound acknowledgment of the importance of Scripture in our lives. When we treasure God's word, we find hope and life, as it provides instruction, comfort, and guidance. Our spiritual vitality directly correlates with our relationship with Scripture; thus, as believers, we must cultivate a love for God's word to nurture our faith and our connection with Him.

Q: What should we pray for regarding our understanding of God's will?

We should pray for understanding and wisdom to live according to God's will. David's prayer in Psalm 119:73, 'Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments,' reflects a humble recognition that true knowledge comes from God. We are inherently dependent on God for spiritual understanding, much like we depend on Him for our very existence. As we seek to know His will, it is crucial that we ask for His guidance and insight, acknowledging that without His aid, we cannot discern the path He has for us. Through prayer, we align our hearts with His, asking for His grace to fill us with wisdom and the understanding needed to walk in obedience.

fear thee will be glad when they
see me, because I have hoped in thy word. I know, O Lord,
that thy judgments are right, righteousness and right, and
that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Let, I pray thee,
thy merciful kindness be for my comfort according to thy word
unto thy servant. Let thy tender mercies come unto
me, that I may live For thy word is my delight, let the proud
be ashamed. For they dealt perversely with
me without a cause, but I'll meditate in thy precepts. Let
those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known
thy testimonies. And let my heart be sound in
thy statutes, that I may, that I be not ashamed. Now, this scripture,
that's all, 73 through 80, this scripture was such a blessing
to me. It made such an impact upon me
when he read it that I just sat there and looked at it for a
while, and I determined to preach from it when I had opportunity.
And this is the opportunity, this is the time that I've chosen
to preach this message. So let's go back to verse 73.
He says, Thy hands have made me and fashioned
me. Give me understanding." Here's
what he's saying, Lord, as you made me, teach me. Here is the vessel which you've
made. God made this vessel. Now fill it. Fill it with grace,
fill it with wisdom, fill it with understanding. You'll have
to teach me. You see, I am as much dependent
on my Lord for spiritual knowledge and understanding and wisdom
and the understanding of the mysteries of true life as I am
dependent on him for my very being. David wrote again in Psalms,
he said, Lord, forsake not the work of thy hands. You made me,
teach me. You created me, you must teach
me your will and your way. He who made us to live must enable
us to learn. He who made us and gave us the
power to stand must also give us the power to understand. You know, we hear about gifted
men. I hear people talk about, this
man's a gifted man, a gifted woman, and there are plenty of
those in the natural realm. But that man who has the best
gifts, from God, the very best gifts, that woman that has the
best gifts, is that man or woman to whom God has given an understanding
of his will and a knowledge of his way. You know, the scripture
says, God made known his acts to the children of Israel. What's that other? His ways to
Moses. Everybody sees God's acts. The
man whom God has taught knows God's ways. That's what he's
saying here. Teach me. Give me understanding. Oh, that this might be the prayer
of everybody here. Give me understanding. Give me
understanding. Spurgeon said this. I want you
to listen to this. A man, a human man, human being,
Without a mind is an idiot, a mere mockery of a man. Even
so, now listen to this, a human mind without grace and the knowledge
of the living God is a perversion of a man. Isn't that right? A perversion. He who knows not
God actually knows nothing of any value. That's tough, but
that's so. He who knows not God knows nothing,
absolutely nothing of any value. All right, the next verse, 74. You made me, now fill me, teach
me. And they that fear thee will
be glad when they see me. If you give me grace, you who
made me, if you give me understanding
and teach me thy way and thy will and give me your life and
spiritual wisdom, Then the people who fear thee, the people who
know thee, who love thee, who are thy people, will be glad
when they see me. They'll be glad to see me come.
They'll welcome me, and they'll welcome my presence, for they'll
recognize the grace of God in me. And they'll identify with
me, and they'll be glad to see me. If you'll bless me, he says,
I'll be a blessing. They'll be glad to see me. If
you'll fill me with love for you, then I can love them and
be loved by them. They'll be glad to see me. If
you'll teach me, I can teach them, and they'll be glad to
see me." See what he's saying? You've made me, now teach me,
give me understanding that those who love thee will be glad to
see me. You know, men of hope bring hope.
And people are glad to see them. Men and women of joy bring joy,
and folks are glad to see them. People of love and peace bring
peace and love, and people are glad to see them. But despondent
spirits spread their depression. Folks aren't glad to see them. And doubters spread their doubts.
Folks aren't glad to see them. They may say glad to see you,
but they'll see how quickly they can slip out of your presence.
Complainers and murmurers are unwelcome, and folks aren't glad
to see them. Your hand made me and fashioned
me, now give me understanding that the people who love thee
will be glad to see me. Do a work of grace and wisdom
in me that other believers will be glad to see me, and not want
to slip out of my presence and avoid me, because I have hoped in thy word."
When you find a person filled with the word of God and trusting
in the word of God, and that's the word incarnate or the word
written, it doesn't matter, but they are identified with the
word and love the word and draw their joy and confidence and
hope out of the word, folks are glad to see them. Then verse 75, he said,
I know, O Lord, I know, we've been talking about thou who has
made me, now give me understanding, and he says, I have some understanding,
I know something. What do you know, David? What
do you know? What has God taught you? I know
that the judgments of the Lord are right. What are these judgments
of the Lord? Well, we're talking about God's
ways and God's will and God's providence and God's purpose
and whatever God brings to pass. I know that the judgments of
the Lord are right. I know that. That's wisdom. That's
understanding. Like Eli of old who said, well,
it's the Lord, let him do what he will. It'll be right. Shall
not the judge of the earth do right? You know, we talk about
the man who has read the classics, is acquainted with all of the
classics and languages and old writings, and maybe he's dipped
into science and study of space, and maybe he's versed in history
and grammar. Well, he's recognized as a man
of knowledge. He is a man of knowledge compared
with the ignorant masses. But wouldn't a man be far better
off to be able to say this right here and rest in this confidence? I know, O Lord, that all your
judgments are right. They're right. You know, David
was a man of highs and lows. He was a man of triumphs and
troubles. He couldn't see what was ahead.
He couldn't see why it was ahead. But he was confident of one thing,
which he knew, that whatever lay ahead was right. It's right. It's all right. That
song we sing, I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know who
holds tomorrow. And I just know, he said, I know
this, the judgments of the Lord are right. And that, watch this, and that
in faithfulness he hath afflicted me. You know, down here in verse
71, same chapter, 119, Psalm 71, he said, it's good for me
that I've been afflicted. It's good for me that I've been
afflicted. I've been reading that for years and years and
years and years and years and years. And I wonder if I know
what it's all about. It's good for me that I've been
afflicted. Now, it's easy to say when you're
not in the midst of affliction. But when you're right in the
middle of affliction, it's another thing. It's good for me that
I've been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes. But I tell
you this, he says up here in verse 75 that he afflicted me
in faithfulness. Now, several lessons. One, the
devil didn't afflict me. He did. he did if I'm his child. The Lord afflicted me. And you
know it's not because the Lord is unfaithful to us that he's
afflicted us. It's the opposite. It's because
he is faithful that he afflicted us. Isn't that true? It's not
because the Lord is unmindful of me that I have troubles. It's
because he is mindful of me that I have trouble. Whom the Lord
loveth, he afflicteth. That's right. God is faithful
to his sons, and he will discipline, chasten, afflict, or do whatever
is necessary to make them what they ought to be. So David says
here, I know that what you do is right. Let that be established. I know that. I've been taught
that. And I know that my affliction is from your hand, and you've
done it faithfully, faithfully. for your glory and my good."
God is faithful. You know, we get this thing backwards
sometimes. We say, where's the Lord? I'm
hurting. Well, I'm in trouble. Where's the Lord? He afflicted
us in faithfulness. Not because he's unfaithful to
us or forgetful of us, but he is faithful and mindful of us,
and therefore he's right there in the midst of our trial. And
he won't suffer us to be troubled more than we can bear by his
grace. He won't do it. Now, when a father
disowns a son, you say, well, I've been disowned by God. No,
no. When a father disowns a son,
he doesn't correct him anymore. He doesn't even want to hear
from him. Nor does he let the son hear from him. He's disowned
him. There'll be no contact. But as long as the father loves
that son, and cares for that son, and cares for his welfare
and well-being, he'll deal with that son. And when he stops caring
for him, that's when he stops dealing with him. Like I had
a friend that emancipated his son. His son was 17 years old. He went out to the courthouse.
and had a paper drawn up that he didn't want anything to do
with him, or responsible for him, and would not have anything,
any obligation whatsoever. That boy was set free. That's
a true story. God don't emancipate me. I don't
want to be emancipated. Not that way. I don't want him
to stop dealing with me in whatever way is best. for his glory and
for me." Oh, look at the next verse, verse 76. Let, I pray
thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word to thy
servant. Now, this is something here.
David, in the verse above, had just acknowledged that the Lord
afflicted him. In faithfulness he afflicted
him. Now he prays for that same Lord to comfort That seems strange
to some people. That would be strange to the
natural mind, wouldn't it, that David should seek comfort in
the same place he got the affliction? The same hand that rested heavy
upon him, David says, now, that same hand comfort me. That's
not the way we operate. If Daddy chastens a son, he goes
to Mama for comfort. He'd be smart if he'd go to Daddy. If the father and the son have
a conflict and the father has dealt with him firmly and laid
out some guidelines and some discipline, that boy makes a
mistake to go to mama. The best thing he can do is go
to the daddy. And that's what David's done here. He said, you've
afflicted me, now you comfort me. You comfort me, however you tend
to mercies. It'll be mercy. We don't deserve
his comfort. We haven't earned his comfort.
It will be according to his merciful kindness. Here's what? His merciful
kindness. Be merciful to me according to
thy loving kindness. I want you to turn to a scripture
here, 2 Job 5. Job chapter 5. Listen to this. What I'm saying is that as David
goes for comfort to the very one who discomforted him, who
afflicted him. And I want you to hear Job, what
he says about that. Job 5, 17. If you have it, Job
5, 17. Behold, happy is the man whom
God corrected. Therefore despise not thou the
chastening of the Almighty, for he maketh sore and bindeth up. He woundeth And his hands make
whole. He kills and he makes alive.
He wounds and he heals. Same one. Same one. How does
he do it? According to his word. According
to his word to his servant. That's the favorite plea of all
the people of God of all ages. According to thy word. According
to thy word. This is the motive for mercy.
This is the manner of mercy. According to thy word. Verse
77, Psalm 119, let's get back there. Listen, let thy tender
mercies come unto me. You see, you know, I'm not a
hard shell or a Calvinistic fatalist or anything like that. I just
know that everything that I receive, that comes from God. Just like you said, Lord, you
made me, you teach me. Lord, your judgments are right.
You afflicted me, now you comfort me. Now he says, let your tender
mercy come to me. They won't have to come to me,
they ain't going to come out of me. Isn't that right? They've got to come to me. And
it's his tender mercy, so he's got to send it. That's just good
sense. That's not hardshellism. I'd
like to pray like David, wouldn't you? I'd like to believe like
David. I'd like to trust like David. I'd like God to say to
me what he said of David, a man after my own height. And this
man knows the language of prayer. This man knows the language of
God. Let your tender mercies come to me. I'm not accepting
you. You're accepting me. I'm not
doing you any favor, Lord. You're doing all the favors for
me. Let your tender mercies. Tender what? Mercies. Come to
me. Come to me. That I may live. And I'm not going to live without
them. Oh, I'll exist. Without his tender
mercies, I can exist, but I'm not going to live. We don't know
what life's all about until we know him. You know, most of our
old clichÃ©s, you know, say, well, where there's life, there's hope.
You ever heard that? Where there's life, there's hope.
That ain't so. Where there's hope, there's life.
It's the other way around. That's right. You see, in God's
mercy is life. Where there's mercy, there's
life. Where there's hope, there's life. Give me the hope of Christ,
and I'll live. Give me, let your tender mercies
come to me, and then I'll live. I'll live then. But I don't live
until then, until his tender mercies in Christ Jesus, by the
blood of the Son of God, by his holy righteousness, that's when
I begin to live. Up to that time, it's just been
in existence. For he says, verse 77, let your
tender mercies come to me that I may live, for your word is
my delight. Your word is my delight. What
do you do to determine if somebody's alive naturally? Take a pulse. One, two, three. Yeah, he's alive. How do you determine if somebody's
alive spiritually? Spiritual pulse. Thy word is
my delight. Thy word is my delight. Christ the word. Your life spiritually. Everybody wants to go to heaven.
You rarely meet anybody that doesn't want to go to heaven.
Boy, what a joy it is to meet somebody to whom thy word is
my delight. Thy word is my delight. speak, Lord, thy servant heareth."
Oh, boy, listen to this. Verse 78, let the proud be ashamed. Pride is our greatest enemy.
Let the proud be ashamed. And the proud, in their pride,
dealt perversely with me without a cause. You know, pride is man's
greatest enemy. God said seven things I hate,
and the first one is pride. God resisted the proud. Pride
goeth before destruction. Sometimes David speaks of the
wicked and sometimes of the proud. Those two words are interchangeable.
That's right, proud and the wicked. You see, pride keeps a man from
contrition of heart. Pride keeps a man from repentance.
Pride makes a man delight in himself and not in Christ. Pride
exalts our works instead of his. Pride will not allow us to beg.
of mercy. Pride will not bend the knee,
pride will not blend together with others and sing the song
of the Lamb, it's got to sing a solo. I, me, and mine. That's right. Pride cannot rejoice,
it cannot love, it cannot follow. So David said, just let them
be ashamed. Let them be ashamed. But listen to verse 79. Oh, verse
78, there he says, but it's for me, I'll meditate in thy precepts. I'll leave the proud to you,
and I'll meditate, I'll speak well and think upon thy precepts
and thy statutes. Now, verse 79, let those that
fear thee, let those that fear thee turn to thee, turn to me,
to me, be my friends. fellowship with me, and those
that have known thy testimonies." Let me show you something Mr. Spurgeon pointed out here. He
says David has two words for the Lord's people, verse 79. Do you see what they are? Let
those that fear thee turn to me, and those that have known
thy testimonies, the testimonies of the gospel, the truth of God,
let them turn to me. You have two words there. They
fear God. They're God-fearing people. Number
two, they know God. They're God-knowing people. They
fear thee, and they know thee. See that? In other words, they're
people of devotion, and they're people of instruction. Both.
They're people of heart, and people of head. They're people
of affection, love. They know God. They know God. And there are people also who
understand. They fear God and they know God. Mr. Spurgeon said this, I read
this to Milton this afternoon, about this scripture right here.
Spurgeon said, I know some church folks who are gracious but not
intelligent in the things of God. And I know some church folks
who are intelligent in doctrine but not very gracious. He said,
I neither care for devout dummies nor intelligent icebergs, either
one. I don't want to be either one,
do you? I don't want to be a devout dummy, but I sure don't want
to be an intelligent iceberg. What I want to be, I want to
fear God and know God. I want to fear God, to love God,
and I want to know God. Why can't I be both? Why can't
I be instructed, both instructed and compassionate? He says, let
those that both love thee and those who are instructed in the
things of thine, I need their fellowship. I need their fellowship. Now then, wait a minute. David
doesn't say here, well, if they can do without me, I can sure
do without them. Have you ever thought that? They can do without me, I can
sure do without them. That's not what he said. I can't do
without them. He said, let them come to me. Let them come to
me. I know the value of their fellowship.
Those that fear thee and those that know thee, I want to walk
with them. Let them come unto me and let
us walk together. And then he said, listen, verse
80, let my heart be sound in thy statutes. my heart. Here's the root of the matter.
It's the state of the heart. Someone, old dying Puritan, and
they were trying, you've done this before, you've gone in the
hospital room and fluffed up the pillars. Haven't you ever
done that? Why? Sure you have. You know your mother or brother
or sister or child or something lying there, and they just look
like they're not comfortable, and so you kind of raise their
head and you fluff up the pillar and get another and put under
it and And this fella came in, this old fella that was dying,
and he plucked up his pillars and got him all fixed. He said,
now, how does your head lie now? He said, brother, it's not how
my head lies, it's how does my heart lie. He said, that's where
my need is. How does, what's the state of
my heart? Not the comfort of this head, it's the joy of this
heart. That's what he's saying here.
Let my heart be fixed. sound in thy statutes, that I
be not ashamed." That I be not ashamed here and there. I put
about four hymns together here about the heart, four different
hymns by four different men. And they say this, My heart is
fixed, my song shall raise immortal honors to thy name. Lord, awake
my tongue to sing thy praise, thy who art forevermore the same.
My heart is resting on my God. I will rejoice, give thanks,
and sing. My heart is at the secret source
of every real and precious thing. My heart shall triumph in the
Lord and bless his works and bless his word. His works of
grace, how bright they shine, how deep his counsels, oh, how
divine. And then my heart is with him
on his throne, and not his purpose will delay. Each moment I'm listening
for his voice, arise my child, and come away. My heart is fixed. Let it, David said, be sound
in thy statutes.

Thy Law Is My Delight

What does the Bible say about God's affliction and comfort?

How do we know God's judgments are right?

Why is delighting in God's word important for Christians?

What should we pray for regarding our understanding of God's will?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

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Thy Law Is My Delight

What does the Bible say about God's affliction and comfort?

How do we know God's judgments are right?

Why is delighting in God's word important for Christians?

What should we pray for regarding our understanding of God's will?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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