Your Testimonies are My Delight • Deshen Daily

Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: For they are the rejoicing of my heart (Psalm 119:111 KJV)

God’s Book is unlike any other book in many respects. Besides the divine wisdom and power in the words God speaks, the Psalmist reveals another fascinating quality of God’s Word in Psalm 119: 24. He says God’s Word rejoices his heart: the words of God bring joy and gladness to the heart. In Ps. 119:24, he said, “Thy testimonies also are my delight.”

However, the Psalmist is not the only one who observed that God’s words make someone’s heart happy. Let’s review what other Biblical authors had to say about this.

Jeremiah said:

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16 KJV)

For Ezekiel and John the Apostle (Revelation 10:9), God’s Word was sweet in their mouth as honey!

And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness (Ezekiel 3:3 KJV)

Furthermore, these Biblical authors are also not alone in this experience. Scores of Christians in ages past have reported a similar experience with God’s words. Better still, God’s Word has not lost its heart-rejoicing qualities. Christians today continue to experience what the Psalmist, Ezekiel, David, and Job reported.

I can affirm, from personal experience, that God’s Word is a joy-inducer. When I read the Bible or meditate on scriptures, I feel happier, joyful, restful, and at peace. In fact, the experience is so powerful that one of the things I will do when depressive or anxious feelings knock on the door of my heart is to turn to the Bible. I often do this by switching my mind to the Word.

Brethren, these things are real—God’s Word is the joy and rejoicing of the human heart. Unfortunately, hundreds of God’s precious children still find the Bible boring. In fact, many must be forced by repeated appeals from their pastors to read the Bible. What a paradox! I believe nothing will encourage believers to read the Bible as a revelation of what is in that Book for them. As you know, I repeatedly encourage believers to read the Bible, meditate on the scriptures or study it for themselves. However, I also know that until the Spirit opens their eyes to see the Word of God for what it really is, all human efforts to inspire interest in the Bible will be thwarted.

May the Lord open your eyes to see that His words are the rejoicing of the human heart. I pray that one day you will no longer need anyone to encourage you to read the Bible. But, as a person yearns for their favorite dish, you will go after it yourself, driven by your desire for His words.

Have you also had this experience of the Word bringing joy to your heart?

What do you think will happen to depressed feelings in our hearts if we relentless fill our hearts with the joy that comes from His words every day? Be sincere with the Lord. If you genuinely do not even see why you should read the Bible, then there is something you have not yet seen. You need to cry to the Lord to make you see His words for what they indeed are.

Thank the Lord for giving us His excellent Word.