1.  Delight Of the Heart of Man (self-centered)

Eccl 2:8-9

8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well-the delights of the heart of man. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

2.  Delight In Airing One’s Own Opinions.

Prov 18:2

2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding

but delights in airing his own opinions.

3.  Delight In Mockery

Prov 1:22

22 “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?

How long will mockers delight in mockery

and fools hate knowledge?

4.  Delighting In Folly

Prov 15:21

21 Folly delights a man who lacks judgment,

but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.

5.  Delight In Lies

Ps 62:4

4 They fully intend to topple him

from his lofty place;

they take delight in lies.

With their mouths they bless,

but in their hearts they curse.

6.  Delight In False Humility

Col 2:18-19

18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

7.  Delight In Wrong

Prov 2:14-15

14 who delight in doing wrong

and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

15 whose paths are crooked

and who are devious in their ways.

8.  Delight In Wickedness

2 Thess 2:12

12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth

but have delighted in wickedness.

Hos 7:3-4

3 “They delight the king with their wickedness,

the princes with their lies.

4 They are all adulterers,

burning like an oven

whose fire the baker need not stir

from the kneading of the dough till it rises.

9.  Delight In War

Ps 68:30

30 Rebuke the beast among the reeds,

the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations.

Humbled, may it bring bars of silver.

Scatter the nations who delight in war.

Ps 37:4

4 Delight yourself in the LORD

and he will give you

the desires of your heart.

Introduction:

A. Biblical Injunction To Be Delighted In God!

Ps 37:4

4 Delight yourself in the LORD

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

B. Definition Of Delight: Webster Dictionary

1 : a high degree of gratification : joy; also : extreme satisfaction

2 : something that gives great pleasure

3 archaic : the power of affording pleasure

intransitive senses

1 : to take great pleasure ²delighted in playing the guitar³

2 : to give keen enjoyment ²a book certain to delight³

transitive senses : to give joy or satisfaction to

–de£light£er noun

I. Importance Of Delight In Our Relationship With God

A. God Is Delighted In His People Because of their Obedience

to His Command and Decrees.

Deut 30:8-10

8 You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today. 9 Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, 10 if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

B. God Is Not Delighted In Disobedience

1 Sam 15:22-23

22 But Samuel replied:

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

C. The Lord Will Discipline those He Loves & those He Delights In

Prov 3:12

12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,

as a father the son he delights in.

D. The Lord Will Deliver Those Who Delights In Him

Ps 22:8

8 “He trusts in the LORD;

let the LORD rescue him.

Let him deliver him,

since he delights in him.”

E. The Lord Will Uphold Those Who Delights In Him

Ps 37:23-24

23 If the LORD delights in a man’s way,

he makes his steps firm;

24 though he stumble, he will not fall,

for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

II. Who Are Those Whom God Are Delighted With?

A. Lord’s Delight In His People

Ps 149:4-5

4 For the LORD takes delight in his people;

he crowns the humble with salvation.

5 Let the saints rejoice in this honor

and sing for joy on their beds.

B. The Lord’s Delight In Israel

Isa 5:7

7 The vineyard of the LORD Almighty

is the house of Israel,

and the men of Judah

are the garden of his delight.

And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;

for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.

C. God’s Delight On Jerusalem

Isa 65:18-20

18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people;the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.

20 “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,or an old man who does not live out his years;he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.

Zeph 3:16-17

16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem,

“Do not fear, O Zion;

do not let your hands hang limp.

17 The LORD your God is with you,

he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing.”

D. The Lord Delighted In King Solomon

1 Kings 10:8-9

9 Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

E. God’s Delight In His Servant (The Messiah)

Isa 42:1

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him

and he will bring justice to the nations

F. The Lord’s Delight In Jesus (As The True Israel & Real Servant Of God)

Matt 12:15-18

15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, 16 warning them not to tell who he was. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,

the one I love, in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

G. The Lord’s Delight on Those Who Understands and Knows Him

Jer 9:24

24 but let him who boasts boast about this:

that he understands and knows me,

that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight,”

declares the LORD.

H. The Lord Delight’s In those Whose Ways Are Blameless

Prov 11:20

20 The LORD detests men of perverse heart

but he delights in those whose ways are blameless

I. The Lord Delights In Men Who Are Truthful

Prov 12:22

22 The LORD detests lying lips,

but he delights in men who are truthful.

J. The Lord’s Delight In Honesty

Prov 11:1

The LORD abhors dishonest scales,

but accurate weights are his delight.

K. God’s Delight In Showing Mercy

Mic 7:18

18 Who is a God like you,

who pardons sin and forgives the transgression

of the remnant of his inheritance?

You do not stay angry forever

but delight to show mercy.

L. Delight Of God In Those who Fear Him And Put their Hope In His Unfailing Love

Ps 147:11

11 the LORD delights in those who fear him,

who put their hope in his unfailing love

III. How Do We Express Our Delight In God?

A. Delighting In God By Having A Joyful Heart

1 Sam 2:1-2

2:1 Then Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the LORD;

in the LORD my horn is lifted high.

My mouth boasts over my enemies,

for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy like the LORD;

there is no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God.

-Isa 61:10

10 I (Messiah) delight greatly in the LORD;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

-Ps 35:9-10

9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD

and delight in his salvation.

10 My whole being will exclaim,

“Who is like you, O LORD?

You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,

the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

B. Delighting In Revering God’s Name

Neh 1:11

11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

C. Delighting In God Through Prayer

Job 22:26-27

26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty

and will lift up your face to God.

27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you,

and you will fulfill your vows.

-Job 27:10

10 Will he find delight in the Almighty?

Will he call upon God at all times?

D. Delighting In God’s Command and His Words

Ps 1:2

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

-Ps 112:1-3

Praise the LORD.

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,

who finds great delight in his commands.

2 His children will be mighty in the land;

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,

and his righteousness endures forever.

-Ps 119:16-18

16 I delight in your decrees;

I will not neglect your word.

17 Do good to your servant, and I will live;

I will obey your word.

18 Open my eyes that I may see

wonderful things in your law.

-Ps 119:24

24 Your statutes are my delight;

they are my counselors.

-Ps 119:35-37

35 Direct me in the path of your commands,

for there I find delight.

36 Turn my heart toward your statutes

and not toward selfish gain.

37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

preserve my life according to your word.

-Ps 119:47-48

47 for I delight in your commands

because I love them.

48 I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love,

and I meditate on your decrees.

-Ps 119:143-144

143 Trouble and distress have come upon me,

but your commands are my delight.

144 Your statutes are forever right;

give me understanding that I may live.

-Jer 15:16

16 When your words came, I ate them;

they were my joy and my heart’s delight,

for I bear your name,

O LORD God Almighty.

-Rom 7:22

22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;

(If we are not Delighted In God’s Law)

Ps 119:92

92 If your law had not been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

E. Delighting In God’s People

Ps 16:2-3

2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord;

apart from you I have no good thing.”

3 As for the saints who are in the land,

they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.

F. Delighting On the Well Being of God’s People

Ps 35:27

27 May those who delight in my vindication

shout for joy and gladness;

may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,

who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

G. Delighting In Praising God: Singing & Music

Ps 43:4

4 Then will I go to the altar of God,

to God, my joy and my delight.

I will praise you with the harp,

O God, my God.

H. Delighting In Sacrifices With A Humble Heart

Ps 51:16-19

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart,

O God, you will not despise.

18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;

build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,

whole burnt offerings to delight you;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

I. Delight In Pondering God’s Work

Ps 111:2-4

2 Great are the works of the LORD;

they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,

and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;

the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

J. Delighting In The Fear Of the Lord (Of Messiah)

Isa 11:2-3

2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him–

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of power,

the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD–

3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

K. Delighting Not In Evil

1 Cor 13:5-6

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

L. Delighting In All Kind of Suffering For Christ Sake

2 Cor 12:10

10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

M. Delight In Sharing The Gospel Of God & Our Lives

1 Thess 2:8

8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

IV. Other Forms Of Delight

A. Father’s Delight

Prov 29:17

17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;

he will bring delight to your soul.

B. Wise Son’s Delight

Prov 23:24

24 The father of a righteous man has great joy;

he who has a wise son delights in him.

C. Delighting In All Our Work

Eccl 2:10

10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;

I refused my heart no pleasure.

My heart took delight in all my work,

and this was the reward for all my labor.

D. Delighting In Your Husband

Song 2:3

3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest

is my lover among the young men.

I delight to sit in his shade,

and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

E. Delighting In Your Wife

Song 7:6-9

6 How beautiful you are and how pleasing,

O love, with your delights!

7 Your stature is like that of the palm,

and your breasts like clusters of fruit.

8 I said, “I will climb the palm tree;

I will take hold of its fruit.”

May your breasts be like the clusters of the vine,

the fragrance of your breath like apples,

9 and your mouth like the best wine.

F. Delighting In Wisdom

Prov 10:23

23 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

G. Delight Of A King

Prov 14:35

35 A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant incurs his wrath.

H. Delight Of Israel/Jews

Isa 58:13-14

13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

and from doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight

and the LORD’s holy day honorable,

and if you honor it by not going your own way

and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

14 then you will find your joy in the LORD,

and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land

and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”

The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

All scripture refferences are taken from NIV

With that struggle, I view Christian life as a quest and a journey pressing on to the higher ground, trying to escape the pull of this lower nature. Because of that I continually examine my life. Observing what’s happening inside of me. And, one word grabs a hold of my mind as I read and search the scriptures for the answer. That is REPENTANCE!

The Bible highlights the significance of this command. Hebrews 6:1 puts repentance first on the list of elementary or the primary teachings of the church. First preaching done by the Lord in Mark 1:15 declared “Repent…!” His forerunner John the Baptist shouts in the desert “repent!” The apostle Peter first appeal to the hearers of the first gospel preaching is “repent!” (Acts 2:38)

But what is repentance? Thayer defines it as μετανοέω (metanoeō)  

1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent  

2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins’  

When I look at that definition, I said to myself, thank God at least I’m on the right track. Repentance starts with the mind. It’s changing of ones mind! But, in one sense were always changing, isn’t it? That’s why Thayer, the Greek Lexicographer added, to change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend (that is to change, alter, modify, revise, revolutionize, transform, develop, update, and reform) with abhorrence of one’s past sins’.  

When we compare the above difinition with Apostle Paul’s words to the following passages  

 2 And do not be conformed (Greek. suschēmatizō)   to this world, but be transformed (Gk. metamorphoō) by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV  

 2 Cor 3:17-18  

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed (Gk. metamorphoō) into the same image (Gk.  eikōn) from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  

 We will notice on that passages, that a person has two ways of changing a process we can also called metamorphosis. One is being conformed to the schema, outline, pattern or fashion of this world. The other is changing and becoming like an image or icon of our Lord (Romans 8:29). These are the two directions or two ends of a person’s journey, the end product of his changing process. One is becoming like the World the other becoming like the Lord.  

 To become like our Lord requires a decision not to be conformed, and not to be fashioned like of this world. It should touch the aspect of our will, a part of our personality that choose to become like the Lord and choose to do his will. It’s the honest prayer of the heart that says “thy (Lord’s) will be done” and not my will. And like Mary we said to our Lord “be it unto me according to Your Word.”  

 It includes the death on man’s part. The death of ones’ owns will and the death of his old personality. We can’t be truly changed without the death of our old selves. If our old personality is still alive, true change will NOT occur. Our metamorphosis is NOT compared to a BUTTERFLY whose change occurs while it is alive. The metaphor used by our Lord is the metamorphosis of a SEED. It must die to itself. Be buried, and by being dead and buried, change will occur, it will germinate, at will have its roots, it will grow, and grow as a new plant.  

 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  

NIV                                                                                   

 So, Repentance in metaphoric biblical language is our death and resurrection which occurs deep within our old self. It happens when we accept Christ by faith and baptism.  Faith in HIS death and resurrection. Baptized into Christ, united WITH His death and resurrection.  

Look again into this passage for death and resurrection concepts of Repentance.  

 At first, I haven’t notice how great and awesome are the promises revealed in this passage. Our baptism is a public declaration that we repent (vv.1-2) that we died and buried in/with Christ (vv.2-3) there is a responsibility to walk a new life (v.4) and, that we will certainly be resurrected (v.5). There is a great responsibility! Yes, but don’t forget there is a great assurance that we will be resurrected, which by no means only on the next life, but we will have a resurrected life, a new life here and now! However, we must die to sin first.  

I remember, the movie the “Last Samurai”, when the Chinese Emperor asked Tom Cruise how the last samurai heroically died in the battle. The Emperor asked “tell me how he died?” Tom Cruise dramatically replied “I will tell you… how he lived.” In the same way, if we will truly die to ourselves, to our own way of thinking, our own agenda, our own plan, our own paradigm and perspective in life, then and only then we will truly live. Then and only then we can fight our own battle. Then only then we can serve our Master, our Emperor, Jesus The King our Lord!  

For Comments:  

jhunma2000@yahoo.com  

Eduardo “Jhun” Ma (BSE ATh.)  

Tuao

 Church

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