Psalm 37:4
"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires."
This is a familiar verse, but a few months ago I was reading it, and wondered what it really means to take "delight" in the Lord? And what exactly are these "heart's desires"? Today, I decided to check out some commentaries (online at http://bible.cc/psalms/37-4.htm). Here is what I found, somewhat abbreviated. :)
Delight in the Lord: "Expect all thy happiness from him, and seek it in him." (1)
"In the persons in God, Father, Son, and Spirit; in the perfections of God, his power, goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, love, grace, and mercy; in his works of creation, providence, and redemption; in his word, his Gospel, the truths and ordinances of it; in his house, and the worship of it; and in his people, the excellent in the earth, in whom was all the delight of the psalmist; and each of these afford a field of delight and pleasure, to attend unto, contemplate, and meditate upon..." (2)
"The meaning here is, that we should seek our happiness in God - in his being, his perfections, his friendship, his love." (3)
Desires of your heart: "The desires of thine heart - משאלות mishaloth, the petitions. The godly man never indulges a desire which he cannot form into a prayer to God.” (1)
"desires-(Ps 20:5; 21:2), what is lawful and right, really good (Ps 84:11)." (4)
"...such as are according to the will of God, and for the good of his people; such as relate to communion with him, and to the communication of more grace from him, and to the enjoyment of eternal glory." (2)
"Our innermost desires are here meant, not our casual wishes; there are many things which nature might desire which grace would never permit us to ask for; these deep, prayerful, asking desires are those to which the promise is made." (5)
"What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and serve God." (6) "...literally, the "askings," or the "requests" of thy heart. What you really "desire" will be granted to you." (3)
In summary...
"That is,
In my own words...
Learn to love and take in everything God is to you and to the world. Let your mind and heart realize how amazing He is and how lucky you are to have Him. And in the process, you will find the deep questions, longings, and wishes of your heart satisfied by His presence and His provision.
This is a familiar verse, but a few months ago I was reading it, and wondered what it really means to take "delight" in the Lord? And what exactly are these "heart's desires"? Today, I decided to check out some commentaries (online at http://bible.cc/psalms/37-4.htm). Here is what I found, somewhat abbreviated. :)
Delight in the Lord: "Expect all thy happiness from him, and seek it in him." (1)
"In the persons in God, Father, Son, and Spirit; in the perfections of God, his power, goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, love, grace, and mercy; in his works of creation, providence, and redemption; in his word, his Gospel, the truths and ordinances of it; in his house, and the worship of it; and in his people, the excellent in the earth, in whom was all the delight of the psalmist; and each of these afford a field of delight and pleasure, to attend unto, contemplate, and meditate upon..." (2)
"The meaning here is, that we should seek our happiness in God - in his being, his perfections, his friendship, his love." (3)
Desires of your heart: "The desires of thine heart - משאלות mishaloth, the petitions. The godly man never indulges a desire which he cannot form into a prayer to God.” (1)
"desires-(Ps 20:5; 21:2), what is lawful and right, really good (Ps 84:11)." (4)
"...such as are according to the will of God, and for the good of his people; such as relate to communion with him, and to the communication of more grace from him, and to the enjoyment of eternal glory." (2)
"Our innermost desires are here meant, not our casual wishes; there are many things which nature might desire which grace would never permit us to ask for; these deep, prayerful, asking desires are those to which the promise is made." (5)
"What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and serve God." (6) "...literally, the "askings," or the "requests" of thy heart. What you really "desire" will be granted to you." (3)
In summary...
"That is,
(a) the fact that you seek your happiness in him will regulate your desires, so that you will be "disposed" to ask only those things which it will be proper for him to grant; and
(b) the fact that you do find your happiness in him will be a reason why he will grant your desires." (3)
"Their will is subdued to God's will, and now they may have what they will." (5)
In my own words...
Learn to love and take in everything God is to you and to the world. Let your mind and heart realize how amazing He is and how lucky you are to have Him. And in the process, you will find the deep questions, longings, and wishes of your heart satisfied by His presence and His provision.
1. Clarke's Commentary of the Bible
2. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. Barnes' Notes on the Bible
4. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
5. Treasury of David
6. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible
Well said Andrea. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteI need to meditate on this... but I like what you brought together here. thanks, Andrea :)
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