I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. - Psalm 40:8

    The Lord Jesus Christ is the one in whom all believers delight. Delight suggests love, joy, satisfaction, pleasure, etc. Delight is a passion or an emotion of the heart. The words in the verse above are the words of our Lord, making reference to all that he did in his humanity, especially his vicarious death on the cross as his people’s substitute.

    It was not the suffering, shame, or the being made sin that was his delight. It was the doing of his Father’s will that brought him joy, satisfaction, and delight. The child of God delights in the same—In God—In Christ—In his Gospel—in his church—In the doing of his will.

    It is the Father’s will that we believe on his Son, rejoice in his Word, and commit ourselves to his body—His church. This is our delight while we are here on this earth. What a privilege! What an honour! What a calling! What a delight!

    The delight and satisfaction found in knowing Christ, worshipping Him, and believing his Gospel, makes the sufferings and cares of the flesh seem but little, and makes them bearable in our pilgrimage through this life. Our Lord said in John 16:33, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. When we are cast down in spirit and begin to murmur and complain, it is ALWAYS because we are looking at SELF, rather than looking unto him in whom we delight. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God (Ps 42:11).

    The man that delights in the Lord is a blessed and happy man, because his faith is in THE ONE who is able, and will provide for him in all things. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Ps 1:1-3).

    If he is not our delight, then we have nothing substantial in which to delight. All other pleasures and joys will eventually perish, and we will be confined to our own misery forever.