Delight

God as the source of delight

Delight in the person of God

Martin Luther preached daily, and grew immensely popular through his exposition of the Holy Scriptures in the common language. After objecting to the methods Johann Tetzel employed to sell indulgences, Luther posted for debate his 95 Theses, October 31, 1517. He was fiercely attacked, especially by Johann Eck.

On April 18, 1521, when the 21 year old Emperor Charles V summoned him to Diet of Worms to renounce his views, Martin Luther stated:

Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen.74

Martin Luther

Isaiah 61:10 ESV

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

See also Ne 1:11; Job 22:26; Ps 22:8; Ps 37:4; Ps 43:3–4; Is 58:13–14

Delight in the word of God

Ps 119:16; Ro 7:22

See also Ps 1:2; Ps 19:7–14; Ps 119:24; Ps 119:47; Je 15:16

Delight in the works of God

1 Sa 2:1; Ps 35:4–10; Ac 11:23

God expresses delight

Over his world

Psalm 104:31 ESV

May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works,

See also Ge 1:31; Pr 8:30–31

Over his people

Deuteronomy 30:9–10 ESV

The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

See also 2 Sa 22:20; Ps 147:10–11; Ps 149:4; Is 62:4; Is 65:18–19; Je 31:20; Je 32:41; Mic 7:18

Over justice

Proverbs 11:1 ESV

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.

See also Pr 11:20; Pr 12:22; Je 9:24

Over his Messiah

Matthew 3:17 ESV

and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

See also Is 42:1; Mt 12:18–21; Mt 17:5; 2 Pe 1:17

God’s delight is absent when something is viewed unfavourably

1 Samuel 15:22 ESV

And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

See also Le 26:31; Ps 51:16; Ps 147:10

Natural delight in parenthood

Proverbs 3:12 ESV

for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

See also Pr 23:24; Pr 29:17; Mic 1:16

Sexual delight

Song of Solomon 1:4 ESV

Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you.

See also Ge 34:19; Pr 5:18; So 2:3; So 4:1; So 7:10

Delight in the created order

In God’s gifts

Deuteronomy 26:11 ESV

And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.

See also Is 55:2; Je 31:12; Joe 2:23

In one’s work

Ecclesiastes 2:10 ESV

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.

See also Dt 12:7; Ec 3:22; Ec 5:19; Ec 8:15

In the achievements of others

Colossians 2:5 ESV

For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

See also Ex 18:9; Es 6:9; Pr 14:35; 1 Th 2:13–14

The delight of believers in their relationship with God

Psalm 9:2 ESV

I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

See also 1 Sa 2:1; Ne 1:11; Job 22:26; Ps 9:14; Ps 13:5; Ps 31:7; Ps 35:9; Ps 37:4; Ps 89:16; Ps 149:2; Lk 1:46–47

Delight in wrongdoing

Ps 62:4; 1 Co 13:6

See also Ps 68:30; Pr 2:12–15; Pr 18:2; Is 66:3; Col 2:18; 2 Th 2:12