The New Birth

Transitioning from the negative to the positive description of the blessed man, Pastor Martin expounds 'his delight is in the law of the Lord.' He defines delight as a spontaneous affinity rooted in one's nature, demonstrating that only the new birth can produce genuine delight in God's law. He explains four reasons why the regenerate man delights in Scripture: it reveals the Lord Himself, it is the truth by which he was born again, it reveals his duty, and it is the instrument of his sanctification. He closes with pastoral counsel on recovering lost delight.

Pastor Martin undertakes a thorough study of what it means to meditate in the law of God day and night. He explains that the Hebrew word for 'meditate' means to mutter or mumble, connecting verbalization with focused thought. He identifies the object of meditation as the Word of God, the proper time as whenever the mind is free, and the great benefit as spiritual digestion -- bringing the general Word into direct contact with one's personal situation. He uses the analogy of the stomach in physical digestion and the art gallery illustration to show meditation's transforming power.