“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires” Psalm 37: 3-4
This week’s verse is probably very familiar to you. Besides being trendy as the focus of Christian artwork and décor, there are innumerable sermons to be found on the verse and it’s often one of the verses we commit to memory. But what does the verse really mean? And have you ever had an experience where you have felt God has blessed you with the desires of your heart? As I have matured as a Christian, I’ve become cautious of ever considering a single verse in isolation and always endeavor to discern the context of the passage to reveal the meaning of the verse. Unfortunately, Psalm 37:4 is one that has been interpreted in a vacuum far too often and led to discouragement for many.
In the entirety of the Psalm (which I would encourage you to read), King David is imploring the Israelites to keep trusting God. Even though they are witnessing evil men doing evil things, living the high life, and thriving while the faithful Israelites are struggling, David, reminds them that “the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones” (vs 28). It’s a passage about when life is not going our way, God is still in control. It’s truly a life lesson, not always an easy one and one most of us learn over and over again.
The Psalm instructs us to delight in the Lord. To delight in someone or something is to find joy in that person or thing. The first truth in Psalm 37:4 is that our foremost, sincere desire must be for God and recognize that nothing and no one can completely satisfy us other than God. In a world that has everything one can imagine at our fingertips, this is a truth that must be intentionally sought after and nurtured through a deep, personal relationship. God is not a genie in a bottle that we can call up occasionally, ask for our heart’s desire and expect Him to answer but sadly that is how He is treated by many Christians. As followers of Jesus, our lives should be constantly transformed, and our minds renewed by a continual infusion of the Word. When we delight in the Lord frequently, our heart begins to align with His and over time it becomes about His desires for our life and not about the desires of “my” heart.
The source of true joy that cannot be taken away, particularly in a season of life that encompasses many changes and decisions, can only be found by spending time in the presence of the Lord and honestly seeking His will and desires for our life. And as we grow closer to the Lord, “…..though we do not see Him now, we trust Him; and we rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy,” for we will be enjoying the ultimate desire of our hearts; the eternal salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:8-9). And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
The entrance of the City of David is decorated with a harp, to represent the harp David played to calm King Saul from his bad moods (1 Sam 16;23).