822 words, 4 minutes read time.
John Piper’s 2018 sermon at the Passion Conference, titled “What Is It Like to Delight in God?”, provides profound insights into the nature of finding true joy and satisfaction in our relationship with God. Drawing from the story of Job and the wisdom of Scripture, Piper challenges us to reexamine what it means to truly delight in God and how this delight should shape our lives. This post will explore Piper’s key points and offer practical reflections on how we can live out this deep-seated joy.
The Misguided Counsel of Eliphaz
John Piper begins by examining the words of Eliphaz from Job 22:24-26, where Eliphaz advises Job to “lay gold in the dust” and find God as his ultimate treasure. On the surface, this seems like wise counsel. However, God’s later rebuke of Eliphaz in Job 42 reveals a crucial misunderstanding. Eliphaz’s advice, while true in principle, was misapplied. He used this truth to accuse Job of hidden sin, rather than offering genuine comfort and encouragement.
Piper emphasizes that the problem was not with the truth itself but with how it was used. Eliphaz’s words were intended to indict rather than to uplift, showing how even truth can be harmful when spoken with the wrong intentions or context. This underscores the importance of how we convey truth, ensuring it is done with love and understanding rather than condemnation.
Experiencing Delight in God
Piper explores what it means to truly delight in God, arguing that it is more than an intellectual exercise or a superficial acknowledgment. Delight in God involves a deep, personal joy in Him as a person. This kind of delight is transformative and goes beyond the enjoyment of God’s gifts or the blessings He bestows.
To illustrate this, Piper uses the metaphor of human experiences and pleasures, such as enjoying a good meal or the warmth of a loving relationship. These experiences are designed to point us toward a greater understanding of God’s nature. Just as honey helps us understand sweetness, these earthly pleasures can help us appreciate the divine sweetness and richness of God. They are not the end but the means through which we can glimpse the greater joy found in God Himself.
The Threefold Duty of Delight
Piper argues that delighting in God is not merely a personal preference but a fundamental duty. He presents three reasons why our highest obligation is to be supremely satisfied in God:
- The Greatest Commandment: According to Jesus in Matthew 22:37-38, the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Piper highlights that this love is not just about actions but about deep-seated affection and delight. True love for God starts with the heart, which then influences our actions. Delight in God is the root, and our actions are the fruit of this deep-seated joy.
- The Overflow of Joy: Piper refers to the Macedonian Christians in 2 Corinthians 8, who demonstrated that genuine love for others is an overflow of joy in God. Their joy, despite their poverty and affliction, led to extraordinary generosity. This example shows that our love for others should spring from our joy in God. If our satisfaction in God is lacking, our love for others will be diminished.
- The Glory of God: The ultimate purpose of our lives is to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Piper argues that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Our delight in God reflects His greatness and beauty. By being fully satisfied in God, we honor Him and fulfill our purpose to magnify His glory.
Applying the Message
Piper’s message invites us to reflect on our own delight in God. Are we allowing our joy to terminate in the blessings and pleasures of life, or are we using them as pointers to a greater satisfaction in God? Piper challenges us to see that our highest duty is not just to perform religious tasks but to find true joy and fulfillment in God Himself.
This perspective transforms our understanding of duty from a burdensome obligation to a liberating freedom. Delight in God is not a heavy yoke but a source of true joy and fulfillment. As Piper concludes his sermon, he prays that we would experience a miracle of the heart where our delight in the good things of life leads us to find our ultimate pleasure in God.
Conclusion
John Piper’s sermon at the 2018 Passion Conference offers a profound exploration of what it means to delight in God. By reflecting on the story of Job, the advice of Eliphaz, and the ultimate purpose of our joy, Piper helps us see that true delight in God is both our highest duty and our greatest joy. As we seek to embrace this truth, let us remember that our joy in God not only enriches our lives but also reflects His glory and fulfills our purpose.
