Delighting in the Lord: Finding Joy and Peace

Psalm 37 invites us to explore a profound question: Are we truly enjoying the Lord? In a world filled with darkness and chaos, it is crucial to find joy and delight in our relationship with God. Psalm 37:4 commands us to "Delight thyself also in the Lord," a call to immerse ourselves in His presence and find peace and satisfaction in Him. This command is not just an additional task but an overarching principle that should permeate every aspect of our lives.

The psalmist David encourages us to trust in the Lord, do good, and dwell in the land, but he emphasizes the importance of delighting in the Lord. This delight is not a passive feeling but an active engagement with God, a conscious decision to find joy in His presence. It is about making ourselves delicate, calming our souls, and immersing ourselves in the reality of God.

To truly enjoy the Lord, we must embrace two spiritual realities: calm and immersion. Calmness involves quieting our souls, finding rest and peace in God, and letting go of our anxieties and fears. Immersion means living fully in the sphere of God's presence, being completely surrounded by Him, and allowing His presence to influence every part of our lives.

Isaiah's prophecies illustrate the importance of rest and calm in God, contrasting it with the human tendency to seek power and riches. The call to rest in God is a call to reject the world's distractions and find true peace in Him. This immersion in God is akin to being baptized, a symbol of being fully enveloped in His presence.

To apply this commandment, we must radically find Christ in every aspect of our lives, live a mature and integrated Christian life, actively cultivate delight in Jesus, and delight in everything God gives us. By doing so, we fulfill the command to delight in the Lord, experiencing the joy and satisfaction that comes from being fully immersed in His presence.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Delight in the Lord: The command to delight in the Lord is an invitation to find joy and satisfaction in His presence. It is not just an additional task but a principle that should permeate every aspect of our lives. This delight is an active engagement with God, a conscious decision to find joy in His presence. [02:26]
• 2. Calmness in God: To truly enjoy the Lord, we must embrace the spiritual reality of calmness. This involves quieting our souls, finding rest and peace in God, and letting go of our anxieties and fears. It is about making ourselves delicate and calming ourselves in Yahweh. [13:53]
• 3. Immersion in God's Presence: Immersion means living fully in the sphere of God's presence, being completely surrounded by Him, and allowing His presence to influence every part of our lives. This immersion is akin to being baptized, a symbol of being fully enveloped in His presence. [31:12]
• 4. Rejecting Worldly Distractions: Isaiah's prophecies illustrate the importance of rest and calm in God, contrasting it with the human tendency to seek power and riches. The call to rest in God is a call to reject the world's distractions and find true peace in Him. [20:19]
• 5. Applying the Commandment: To apply the commandment to delight in the Lord, we must radically find Christ in every aspect of our lives, live a mature and integrated Christian life, actively cultivate delight in Jesus, and delight in everything God gives us. [42:03]
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:18] - Introduction to Psalm 37
• [01:36] - The Importance of Enjoying the Lord
• [02:26] - Delight Thyself in the Lord
• [03:47] - Commandments in Psalm 37
• [05:43] - The "Also" Command
• [07:02] - Bob Jennings' End of Life Advice
• [08:12] - Make Yourself Delicate
• [09:20] - Two Keys to Enjoying the Lord
• [11:34] - Spiritual Realities: Calm and Immersion
• [13:53] - The Reality of Calm
• [20:19] - Rejecting Worldly Distractions
• [31:12] - Immersion in God's Presence
• [42:03] - Applying the Commandment
• [47:46] - Closing Prayer

1. What does Psalm 37:4 mean when it says, "Delight thyself also in the Lord"? How does this command relate to the other instructions given in the first four verses of the psalm? [04:58]
2. In the sermon, the pastor mentions two spiritual realities necessary for enjoying the Lord: calm and immersion. How are these concepts illustrated in the sermon? [11:34]
3. How does the pastor use the example of Bob Jennings to emphasize the importance of enjoying the Lord? What was Jennings' advice at the end of his life? [07:02]
4. What does the pastor mean by the "also" command in Psalm 37:4, and how does it integrate with other aspects of a believer's life? [05:43]

1. How does the concept of "calmness" in God, as discussed in the sermon, challenge the common human tendency to seek power and riches? What does Isaiah 30:15 suggest about finding strength in quietness and trust? [20:19]
2. The sermon describes "immersion" in God's presence as akin to being baptized. How does this metaphor help us understand the depth of relationship God desires with us? [31:12]
3. In Acts 17:28, it is stated, "For in him we live and move and have our being." How does this verse support the idea of living a life fully immersed in God's presence, as discussed in the sermon? [36:00]
4. The pastor speaks about rejecting worldly distractions to find true peace in God. How does this align with the message in Isaiah 30:15, and what practical steps can believers take to reject these distractions? [20:19]

1. Reflect on your daily routine. Are there specific moments where you can intentionally "delight yourself in the Lord"? How can you incorporate this practice into your everyday life? [42:03]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of calmness in God. What are some practical ways you can quiet your soul and find rest in God amidst the chaos of daily life? [13:53]
3. Consider the distractions in your life that pull you away from being fully immersed in God's presence. What steps can you take this week to minimize these distractions and focus more on your relationship with God? [37:43]
4. The pastor encourages believers to find Christ in every aspect of their lives. How can you practice this by recognizing God's presence in ordinary activities, such as driving or doing household chores? [42:48]
5. Think about a time when you felt truly immersed in God's presence. What circumstances or practices helped you achieve this state, and how can you recreate it more regularly? [34:19]
6. The sermon suggests actively cultivating delight in Jesus through personal interests or hobbies. Identify one activity that brings you joy and consider how you can use it to deepen your relationship with God. [44:22]
7. How can you delight in the gifts God has given you, such as family, work, or nature, as a way to delight in the Lord? What specific actions can you take to express gratitude for these gifts this week? [46:19]