THE INWARD BATTLE OF ROMANS SEVEN DELIGHTING IN THE LAW OF GOD "For I delight in the law of God." Other versions read, "I joyfully concur with the law of God" (NASB). "I take pleasure in the law of God" (BBE). "I dearly love God's law" (NJB). How is it that Paul can conclude he delights in the Law of God, when evil has erupted within him? Does not "evil" being "present" with him suggest the law of God is not within him? Indeed not! The Absence of Such Delight The glaring absence of a delight in the Law of God is abundantly apparent in far too many assemblies. A lack of appetite for God's Word, and a studied effort to avoid being exposed to much of it, are altogether too common. This is a most serious condition, even though it is not popular to so regard it. Many a local congregation tailors its activities for those who have no delight in, or high regard for the law of God. Various forms of entertainment and a variety of family activities are thought to be sufficient for the people. However, Jesus did not pour out His soul as an offering for sin in order for such things to occur among His saints. THE INWARD MAN "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man." Other versions read, "in the inner man" (NASB), "in my inner being" (NIV), "in my inmost self" (NRSV). This part of our being is associated with our hearts, or essential, persons. It is where the Law of God is written (Heb 10:16). It is where the Holy Spirit resides (Gal 4:6), and wherein we are "sealed" as God's own people (2 Cor 1:22). This is where the love of God is "shed abroad" (Rom 5:5). The heart is where the light of the knowledge of the glory of God is beamed, so that we come to know the Lord through Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6). It is also where assurance is placed (1 John 3:19). The "inward man," or the heart, is the focus of edification and comfort. Renewal Within Here is where spiritual progress is made, where we are being "conformed to the image" of God's Son (Rom 8:29). It is where ongoing spiritual change takes place, as the Holy Spirit changes us from one stage of glory to another (2 Cor 3:18). Out of Touch The Christianity (falsely so called) of our day causes people to be more aware of the outward man, which is "perishing." You can hear the effects of this emphasis in the prayer requests of the people. It is perceived in the administrative staff of their churches. Even the means of obtaining ministerial credentials roots in the "outward man." Sermons, programs, and even literature have very little for the "inward man." -- Tomorrow:
" For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man." (Romans 7:22)
This is the sixth conclusion Paul draws from his perception of inner turmoil--he struggle of good and evil within the womb of the mind. I cannot overemphasize the importance of knowing how to assess our inward experiences. Many believers are at a tremendous disadvantage simply because they are ignorant of the cause and nature of inner conflict. They can imagine they are better than they really are, unaware of the "evil" that remains associated with them. They can also conclude they are worse than they really are, not understanding that the evil with which they struggle is IN them, yet is not an expression of their real persons. Thus, the high value of this passage is accentuated. Once seen, it becomes a weapon with which to do battle. It also becomes a sweet elixir to assuage the weary warrior.
He knows he delights in the Law of God because he recognizes "evil" when it asserts itself. This is not an academic recognition, but one of the heart. He knows competing influences when he experiences them. Delighting in the Law of God shapes the will of the believer, causing him to want to do right things, and be repelled by the wrong things.
Rejoicing in the Law of God, and being satisfied by its message, are the results of having it written upon the heart and put into the mind (Heb 10:16). Delight includes the following conditions: approval of, preference for, and pleased with. This frame of mind is expressed by holy men of old time.
1. JOY. "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart" (Jer 15:16).
2. VALUE. "I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 15:16).
3. DESIRED. "The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb" (Psa 19:9-10).
4. NOT FORGET. "I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word" (Psa 119:16).
5. TRUST. "So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in Thy word" (Psa 119:42).
6. KEPT. "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy word" (Psa 119:67).
7. HOPE IN. "They that fear Thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in Thy word" (Psa 119:74,81).
8. BETTER. "The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver" (Psa 119:72).
9. LOVED. "O how love I Thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psa 119:97).
10. PROVOKES HOLINESS. "I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Thy word" (Psa 119:101).
11. SATISFYING. How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psa 119:103).
12. REJOICING. "Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart" (Psa 119:111).
13. MEDITATE IN. "Mine eyes prevent (are awake in) the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy word" (Psa 119:148).
14. STAND IN AWE OF. "Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of Thy word" (Psa 119:161).
15. A TREASURE. "I rejoice at Thy word, as one that findeth great spoil" (Psa 119:162).
16. TALK ABOUT. "My tongue shall speak of Thy word: for all Thy commandments are righteousness" (Psalm 119:172).
While all of these are surely involved in delighting in the Law of God, yet many of them may seem distant from us when "the law of sin" erupts within. Even at that time, however grievous it may be, the very fact that we abhor the expressions of the "old man" proves we really do "delight in the Law of God." That not only is a valid conclusion, if we are to overcome sin, it is an essential one!
The prophet Jeremiah spoke of people who lacked a delight in the Word of the Lord. Through the Spirit he defined their condition most precisely. You may rest assured, if this was true under the limited perspective of the Old Covenant, it is much more true in the "day of salvation." Hear the prophet as he laments. People would not hear the Word, for whatever reason. As a result, they became subjects of the wrath of God. "To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; THEY HAVE NO DELIGHT IN IT. Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together" (Jer 6:10-11).
An "uncircumcised ear" is the result of an unregenerate state. No good can be said about it, and there is no acceptable excuse for its presence (Acts 7:51). Such are people to whom God has not given "an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear" (Deut 29:4).
There exists in contemporary churches a completely intolerable situation. All of the vain explanations for this are unacceptable. In Christ Jesus there is forgiveness, regeneration, righteousness, the law written upon the heart and mind, and the conferment of a new nature. For people to live as though they were under the Old Covenant, with the same manners as Israel in the wilderness, is only evidence of their failure to believe the Gospel and be born again. For such people, the seventh chapter of Romans has no comfort and no instruction.
Delight in the Law of God is found in the "inward man." This is not, as already confirmed, simply the unseen part of our being. Rather, it is "the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col 3:10). This is the re-created part, where Divine strength is imparted by the Holy Spirit of God! As it is written, "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph 3:16). He is an "inward," or "inner" man as compared with our bodies which are called the "outward man."
In a very vivid portrayal of the "inward man," the Spirit confirms it is the focus of Divine attention and blessing. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal," NASB (2 Cor 4:16-18).
An excellent example of the renewal and revitalization of the "inward man" is found in our text. There, fatiguing and frustrating inner conflict becomes the evidence of a delight in the Law of the Lord. It becomes the occasion for the discovery of a wayward law within us--a law that shoots evil into our thinking as soon as we intend to do anything good and well pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. The knowledge of our real condition strengthens us for the battle, and enables us to say "NO!" to the suggestions of our own "sinful flesh" (Rom 8:3).
As a result, believers are not acquainted with their "new man," or "inward man." The flesh speaks louder to them than the Spirit, and their eyes and ears are more closely tuned to things that are seen than to things unseen.
There are disadvantages to this condition that have eternal ramifications. Unless we see something of what is being expounded in this seventh chapter, Satan WILL gain the advantage over us. However, once our real situation is seen, or comprehended, we will be more demanding about feeding and nurturing the inner man. We will not be content with religious novelties, powerless preaching, and distorted emphases.
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ I praise You for giving me a heart for Your word. I delight in it, and daily derive life from it.