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Commentary on Psalms 37 verses 1–6
The instructions here given are very plain; much need not be said for the exposition of them, but there is a great deal to be done for the reducing of them to practice, and there they will look best.
I. We are here cautioned against discontent at the prosperity and success of evil-doers (Psa 37:1, Psa 37:2): Fret not thyself, neither be thou envious. We may suppose that David speaks this to himself first, and preaches it to his own heart (in his communing with that upon his bed), for the suppressing of those corrupt passions which he found working there, and then leaves it in writing for instruction to others that might be in similar temptation. That is preached best, and with most probability of success, to others, which is first preached to ourselves. Now, 1. When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers and workers of iniquity, that flourish and prosper, that have what they will and do what they will, that live in ease and pomp themselves and have power in their hands to do mischief to those about them. So it was in David's time; and therefore, if it is so still, let us not marvel at the matter, as though it were some new or strange thing. 2. When we look within we find ourselves tempted to fret at this, and to be envious against these scandals and burdens, these blemishes and common nuisances, of this earth. We are apt to fret at God, as if he were unkind to the world and unkind to his church in permitting such men to live, and prosper, and prevail, as they do. We are apt to fret ourselves with vexation at their success in their evil projects. We are apt to envy them the liberty they take in getting wealth, and perhaps by unlawful means, and in the indulgence of their lusts, and to wish that we could shake off the restraints of conscience and do so too. We are tempted to think them the only happy people, and to incline to imitate them, and to join ourselves with them, that we may share in their gains and eat of their dainties; and this is that which we are warned against: Fret not thyself, neither be thou envious. Fretfulness and envy are sins that are their own punishments; they are the uneasiness of the spirit and the rottenness of the bones; it is therefore in kindness to ourselves that we are warned against them. Yet that is not all; for, 3. When we look forward with an eye of faith we shall see no reason to envy wicked people their prosperity, for their ruin is at the door and they are ripening apace for it, Psa 37:2. They flourish, but as the grass, and as the green herb, which nobody envies nor frets at. The flourishing of a godly man is like that of a fruitful tree (Psa 1:3), but that of the wicked man is like grass and herbs, which are very short-lived. (1.) They will soon wither of themselves. Outward prosperity is a fading thing, and so is the life itself to which it is confined. (2.) They will sooner be cut down by the judgments of God. Their triumphing is short, but their weeping and wailing will be everlasting.
II. We are here counselled to live a life on confidence and complacency in God, and that will keep us from fretting at the prosperity of evil-doers; if we do well for our own souls, we shall see little reason to envy those that do so ill for theirs. Here are three excellent precepts, which we are to be ruled by, and, to enforce them, three precious promises, which we may rely upon.
1.We must make God our hope in the way of duty and then we shall have a comfortable subsistence in this world, Psa 37:3. (1.) It is required that we trust in the Lord and do good, that we confide in God and conform to him. The life of religion lies much in a believing reliance on God, his favour, his providence, his promise, his grace, and a diligent care to serve him and our generation, according to his will. We must not think to trust in God and then live as we list. No; it is not trusting God, but tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. Nor must we think to do good, and then to trust to ourselves, and our own righteousness and strength. No; we must both trust in the Lord and do good. And then, (2.) It is promised that we shall be well provided for in this world: So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. He does not say, "So shalt thou get preferment, dwell in a palace, and be feasted." This is not necessary; a man's life consists not in the abundance of these things; but, "Thou shalt have a place to live in, and that in the land, in Canaan, the valley of vision, and thou shalt have food convenient for thee." This is more than we deserve; it is as much as a good man will stipulate for (Gen 28:20) and it is enough for one that is going to heaven. "Thou shalt have a settlement, a quiet settlement, and a maintenance, a comfortable maintenance: Verily thou shalt be fed." Some read it, Thou shalt be fed by faith, as the just are said to live by faith, and it is good living, good feeding, upon the promises. "Verily thou shalt be fed, as Elijah in the famine, with what is needful for thee." God himself is a shepherd, a feeder, to all those that trust in him, Psa 23:1.
2.We must make God our heart's delight and then we shall have our heart's desire, Psa 37:4. We must not only depend upon God, but solace ourselves in him. We must be well pleased that there is a God, that he is such a one as he has revealed himself to be, and that he is our God in covenant. We must delight ourselves in his beauty, bounty, and benignity; our souls must return to him, and repose in him, as their rest, and their portion for ever. Being satisfied of his loving-kindness, we must be satisfied with it, and make that our exceeding joy, Psa 43:4. We were commanded (Psa 37:3) to do good, and then follows this command to delight in God, which is as much a privilege as a duty. If we make conscience of obedience to God, we may then take the comfort of a complacency in him. And even this pleasant duty of delighting in God has a promise annexed to it, which is very full and precious, enough to recompense the hardest services: He shall give thee the desires of thy heart. He has not promised to gratify all the appetites of the body and the humours of the fancy, but to grant all the desires of the heart, all the cravings of the renewed sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and live to God, to please him and to be pleased in him.
3.We must make God our guide, and submit in every thing to his guidance and disposal; and then all our affairs, even those that seem most intricate and perplexed, shall be made to issue well and to our satisfaction, Psa 37:5, Psa 37:6. (1.) The duty is very easy; and, if we do it aright, it will make us easy: Commit thy way unto the Lord; roll thy way upon the Lord (so the margin reads it), Pro 16:3; Psa 55:22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, the burden of thy care, Pe1 5:7. We must roll it off ourselves, so as not to afflict and perplex ourselves with thoughts about future events (Mat 6:25), not to cumber and trouble ourselves either with the contrivance of the means or with expectation of the end, but refer it to God, leave it to him by his wise and good providence to order and dispose of all our concerns as he pleases. Retreat thy way unto the Lord (so the Septuagint), that is, "By prayer spread thy case, and all thy cares about it, before the Lord" (as Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh, Jdg 11:11), "and then trust in him to bring it to a good issue, with a full satisfaction that all is well that God does." We must do our duty (that must be our care) and then leave the event with God. Sit still, and see how the matter will fall, Rut 3:18. We must follow Providence, and not force it, subscribe to Infinite Wisdom and not prescribe. (2.) The promise is very sweet. [1.] In general, "He shall bring that to pass, whatever it is, which thou hast committed to him, if not to thy contrivance, yet to thy content. He will find means to extricate thee out of thy straits, to prevent thy fears, and bring about thy purposes, to thy satisfaction." [2.] In particular, "He will take care of thy reputation, and bring thee out of thy difficulties, not only with comfort, but with credit and honour: He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgment as the noon-day." (Psa 37:6), that is, "he shall make it to appear that thou art an honest man, and that is honour enough." First, It is implied that the righteousness and judgment of good people may, for a time, be clouded and eclipsed, either by remarkable rebukes of Providence (Job's great afflictions darkened his righteousness) or by the malicious censures and reproaches of men, who give them bad names which they no way deserve, and lay to their charge things which they know not. Secondly, It is promised that God will, in due time, roll away the reproach they are under, clear up their innocency, and bring forth their righteousness, to their honour, perhaps in this world, at furthest in the great day, Mat 13:43. Note, If we take care to keep a good conscience, we may leave it to God to take care of our good name.
The expression “we have need” is applied to those things that are necessary for life. Consequently, applied to material things, it means that one does not need most things but only those of which Paul says, “but having food and clothing, we shall be satisfied with these things.” Those things, [by contrast], that are accumulated in wealth and luxury are the result of abundance among those who live luxuriously. They are not considered to be necessary and absolutely essential but to be superfluous. So, therefore, there are also things that are necessary for us in the realm of divine matters, which bring us into life and cause us to be in the one who says, “I am the life.” But what supersedes these things would be said to supersede need. It is said of such things, “Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the requests of your heart.” These include all the things that are considered in relation to the paradise of luxury and in relation to wealth and glory, the things in the left hand of wisdom according to him who said, “For length of life and years of life are in her right hand, but in her left hand are wealth and glory.” One would say that these go beyond necessity.
(Verse 4.) Therefore, he says: Delight in the Lord, and he will grant you the desires of your heart. Why did he not say 'your desires' but 'the desires of your heart'? For the desires of the external and internal man are not the same and not all of them are approved by Christ; because the law of the flesh often opposes to the rules of the spirit. But those desires that belong to the interior man, who is renewed by the Spirit, the Lord grants them to the petitioner with effect. Hence, he says elsewhere: May the Lord grant you according to your heart, and may he confirm all your desires (Psalm 19:5). He says to follow the heart, not the desire of the flesh; and he says that he should strengthen those desires which come from the deepest part of the heart, not those which are directed by the enticement and pleasures of the flesh.
"Delight yourself in the Lord" [Psalm 37:4]. As if you had put the question, and had said "Show me the riches of that land, in which you bid me dwell," he says, "Delight yourself in the Lord."
In everything he taught the benefit of hope in God: the person hoping in God, he says, and fed by him will enjoy the goods supplied by him while those who find delightful constant converse with him will most of all attain them.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 37:4 presents a profound invitation and a transformative promise, urging believers to cultivate their deepest joy and supreme satisfaction in the character and presence of the LORD. This pivotal verse reveals a spiritual principle: as God becomes the ultimate object of our affections and desires, our own internal longings are progressively purified and conformed to His perfect will. Consequently, the promise assures us that God, in His faithfulness and perfect timing, will then grant these Spirit-aligned desires, leading to true fulfillment and the realization of His divine purposes in our lives.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 37:4 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound truth. The primary device is an Imperative ("Delight thyself"), which serves as a direct command, calling the reader to an active and intentional posture of heart towards God. This command is followed by a clear Conditional Clause or a form of Parallelism, where the fulfillment of the promise ("and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart") is directly contingent upon the obedience to the preceding command. This creates a clear cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting the spiritual principle that divine provision flows from a heart rightly oriented towards God. Furthermore, the phrase "desires of thine heart" uses Metonymy or Synecdoche, where "heart" represents the entire inner person—the seat of intellect, emotion, will, and moral character. It's not merely about superficial wants, but the deepest longings and aspirations of one's entire being. The promise itself can be seen as a form of Divine Assurance, a declaration of God's faithfulness and benevolent care for those who orient their lives around Him.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 37:4 is a cornerstone verse that beautifully intertwines several profound theological themes. It speaks directly to the nature of true worship, emphasizing that God Himself, not His blessings or the outcomes He provides, should be the ultimate object of our affection, pursuit, and satisfaction. This delight in the LORD is not a means to an end, but an end in itself, yet it paradoxically becomes the pathway to receiving God's perfect provision. The verse also highlights the transformative power of an intimate relationship with God; as we draw near to Him and find our satisfaction in Him, our desires are sanctified, purified, and reshaped to align with His divine will. This process underscores God's sovereignty over our hearts and His desire for our holistic flourishing, ensuring that what He grants is always for our ultimate good and His glory. It connects to the broader biblical teaching on seeking God's kingdom first and trusting in His benevolent care, knowing that when we prioritize Him, all other necessary things will be added.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 37:4 challenges us to deeply examine the true source of our joy and satisfaction. In a world constantly vying for our attention and promising fleeting happiness through possessions, achievements, or relationships, this verse redirects our gaze to the eternal, unchanging God. To "delight thyself in the LORD" means cultivating an intimate, active relationship with Him, prioritizing His presence, His Word, and His will above all else. It involves intentionally choosing to find pleasure in prayer, worship, studying Scripture, and obeying His commands, even when circumstances are difficult or when our natural inclinations pull us elsewhere. As we genuinely immerse ourselves in Him, our desires naturally begin to transform, aligning with His divine purposes for our lives. This isn't about suppressing our dreams, but allowing God to refine and elevate them, ensuring that what we long for is also what He is pleased to grant, leading to a profound sense of peace and fulfillment that the world cannot offer and that external circumstances cannot diminish.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does this verse mean God will give me anything I want?
Answer: No, this is a common misunderstanding of the verse. The promise "he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" is conditional upon the preceding command: "Delight thyself also in the LORD." When a person genuinely delights in the LORD, their heart and its desires are progressively transformed and purified to align with God's will and purposes. Therefore, the desires God grants are not selfish whims or unexamined wants, but those longings that have been shaped and sanctified by His Spirit, reflecting His own good and perfect will for the believer's life. It's about God fulfilling desires He has placed within you as you draw closer to Him, not about Him acting as a cosmic vending machine. This principle is echoed in passages like 1 John 5:14, where our confidence in prayer comes from asking "according to his will."
How do I 'delight myself in the LORD'?
Answer: Delighting in the LORD is an active, ongoing process of cultivating an intimate relationship with God, making Him the supreme object of your affection and pursuit. It involves intentionally seeking Him and finding your deepest joy and satisfaction in Him. Practically, this can include:
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 37:4 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent object of delight for the Father, and through Him, we are enabled to truly delight in the LORD. In Christ, our hearts are transformed, making it possible for our desires to align perfectly with God's perfect will. Jesus Himself perfectly embodied this principle, always seeking to do the will of His Father, stating, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work" (John 4:34). He is the one in whom all the promises of God find their "Yes" and "Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20), meaning that God's promises, including the granting of desires, are secured and fulfilled in Him. When we are "in Christ" through faith, our deepest desires are increasingly for His glory, for the advancement of His kingdom, and for conformity to His image. The Holy Spirit, whom Christ sent, works within us to sanctify our desires, interceding for us "according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27), ensuring that the desires He places in our hearts are truly those that God is pleased to grant. Thus, the ultimate "desire of thine heart" for the believer is Christ Himself, and in possessing Him, we possess all things, finding our complete satisfaction and eternal delight in His glorious presence (Philippians 3:8).