Proverbs 12:22 Delight is intense
Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight. Proverbs 12:22 NASB
Delight
What does it mean to be God’s delight? There is something inside me and my fellow human that typically compels us to please. We please our parents, our spouse, our employer, and sometimes — even ourselves. But can I really please God? There is something about the word “delight” that conveys being happy, ebullient, joy-filled. It reflects a high degree of pleasure and enjoyment. Joy. Even rapture. It connects a once deep desire for something then realizing it. For example, when I have an idea to build a home, the steps to make it a reality follow a progression: I make plans. Count my costs. Buy materials. Build. Inspect. After time and work I look up and see the fruit of my efforts and plan to move in. Accomplishing my plan is a delight!
God has been working on something too, building a house — in his people.
Thus says the LORD, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? “For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
Isaiah 66:1-2 NASB
Out of all of that God has made, his delight is most particularly focused on relationship with humans.
I, wisdom… was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.
Proverbs 8:12, 30-31 NASB
And He would want me to be equally delighted in Him.
Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 37:4 NASB
Delight is a relationship with God. It’s a two-way journey of exploration and building. He made me to be malleable, sheep-like, with a unique capability of learning and growing, seeing and imitating, then becoming the reflection of that which I gaze upon. As my focus is on Him and his kingdom — the essence of my person reflects that. And as I delight in Him, he too delights in me. Just like a parent has an incredible love for her child, or a lover has unspeakable affection for her companion.
Faithfulness
With this in mind, the nugget Solomon tosses out is a big one. Dealing faithfully delights Him. Why? Because He deals faithfully, honestly, truthfully. As I value faithfulness, observe it, learn about it, and become, He delights in both my character and the result it produces. My daily transactions matter to Him and begin to be a reflection of His kingdom. The Hebrew word used for “faithfully” conveys predictability, stability, steadiness, and figuratively security, morality. The resulting idea means that I act with a sense of personal responsibility and maintain a position of trust. I fulfill obligations I had previously agreed upon. It is integrity in action. What I say, I will do. It is contrasted with “lying lips.” It is truthfulness in action. This is the same disposition in which God exists. He is a promise keeper. It is the core of who He is. He cannot break his word. He is intrinsically trustworthy. Although it is in man’s broken nature to hide our true selves and motives which serve our purposes, He woos us back to faithfulness, transparency, and truthfulness so I too may reflect him and His kingdom.
What better example than that of the man from Galilee?
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:17
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
Matthew 17:5 NASB
On the other end of the scale and associated with lying lips is the word “Abomination.” It is hard to find a more powerful word for something someone dislikes — and is a good contrast to the word delight. It means something disgusting (morally). An abhorrence. In English, it is an intense aversion or loathing. A vile, shameful, detestable action. Regarding something with extreme repugnance or aversion. To detest utterly. It’s a strong word!
Solomon’s proverbs are short statements, but they contain incredible chunks of gold. He says in Proverbs 2, that if you search for wisdom and understanding like a hidden treasure, then you will find the knowledge of God. When he uses intense words about what God loves and hates it makes me stop and pay attention.
I hope to have the same testimony that David did:
He rescued me because He delighted in me.
2 Samuel 22:20