One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

Doct. 1. One great respect which the Saints owe to the word of God, is to delight therein.

David resolveth so to do, I will delight, or solace or recreate my self in thy statutes; this should be his refreshment after business. David had many things to delight in, the splendour and magnificence of his Kingdom, as Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4. 30. Is not this great Babylon that I have built, for the house of the Kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my Majesty? His great Victories, which Aristotle saith are delightful to all. [Greek or Hebrew]. It is an appearance of excellency, Arist. Rhet. 1. cap. 11. Or in his Instruments of Music, as those, Amos 6. 5. that chant to the sound of the ⟨p. 96⟩viol, and invent to themselves Instruments of Music like David. No, this was not the mirth that he chose for his portion. Wicked men throng their hearts with such delights as these, lest an evil conscience fly upon them; but I will delight my self in thy statutes. He might take comfort in a subordinate way in these things; but the solace of his life, and the true sauce of all his labours was in the word of God. As David, so Jeremiah, cap. 15. 16. Thy words were sound, and I did eat them; they were unto me as the joy and rejoicing of my heart. That was the food and the repast of his soul, and he felt more warmth and cherishing in it, than any can in their bodily food. So Paul, Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the law of God in the inward man. Not to know it only, but to feel the power of it prevailing over his lusts, that was his delight as to the better part of his soul: So it is made a general Character of the blessed man, Psal. 1. 2. that he delighteth in the Law of God, and in that Law doth he exercise himself day and night. Gods people will delight in his Law; it is one of the greatest enjoyments they have on this side Heaven, in the time of their absence from God. It is the instrument of all the good that they receive, Comfort, Strength, Quickening.