Delight Yourself in the Lord

In a world obsessed with chasing desires—wealth, success, recognition—it’s easy to turn to Scripture for promises that seem to guarantee our heart’s longings. One verse often quoted with enthusiasm is Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (ESV). At first glance, it’s a comforting thought: God as a divine benefactor, ready to grant our every wish. Yet, when we focus solely on receiving, we miss the deeper truth of this psalm. True fulfillment doesn’t come from God indulging our whims but from delighting in Him—a delight that transforms our desires and aligns them with His perfect will.

Psalm 37:1-5, penned by David in his later years, is a wisdom psalm, offering counsel to God’s people amidst the perplexing prosperity of the wicked. This passage isn’t a blank check for our wants; it’s a divine promise with a human obligation: to find our greatest joy in God Himself. As we explore these verses, we’ll exegete the text, unpack key Hebrew words, and apply their meaning using the English Standard Version (ESV). Through this journey, we’ll discover that God’s greatest gift is not the fulfillment of our fleeting desires but a deeper relationship with Him, the source of all true satisfaction.

The Promise and Its Misunderstanding

When people speak of their desires, Psalm 37:4 often springs to mind. We love the idea that God will give us what we desperately long for—health, prosperity, happiness. But this enthusiasm can lead to a shallow reading, reducing the verse to a transactional deal: delight in God, get what you want. This misses the psalm’s rich context and profound intent.

Reflecting on a lifetime of walking with God, David wrote Psalm 37 as a wisdom song akin to Proverbs to guide the righteous. The backdrop is a common struggle: the apparent triumph of evildoers. Rather than a formula for personal gain, this psalm addresses how to live faithfully when the wicked seem to prosper. The promise of verse 4—God giving us our heart’s desires—isn’t about material indulgence. It’s conditional on delighting in the Lord, a call to take exquisite pleasure in Him, not just His gifts.

God’s ultimate aim isn’t to pamper our selfishness but to give us more of Himself. Self-focused prayers overlook the prerequisite: communion with Him through His Word, prayer, and service. As our faith deepens, our desires shift, molded to reflect His (Ezekiel 36:25-27). What He provides may differ from our requests, yet it’s always perfect—tailored to our true needs. His joy lies in hearing us long to know Him better, making our relationship with Him the primary reward. This blog post will unpack Psalm 37:1-5, examining its Hebrew roots and practical application, to reveal how true fulfillment flows from delighting in the Lord.

Don’t Fret Over Evildoers (Verses 1-2)

David opens with a firm directive: "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb" (Psalm 37:1-2, ESV). This sets the stage for the entire psalm, addressing a universal temptation: fretting over the ungodly’s success.

Unpacking "Fret"

The Hebrew word for "fret" is תִּתְחַר (tithchar), derived from חָרָה (charah), meaning "to burn" or "be kindled." It paints a picture of inner heat—anger, worry, or agitation boiling within. David warns against letting the prosperity of evildoers ignite jealousy or doubt in God’s justice. Charles Spurgeon captures it vividly: “To fret is to worry, to have the heart-burn, to fume, to become vexed.” It’s a natural response when we see “law-breakers riding on horses, and obedient subjects walking in the mire,” but David calls us to resist.

Why Not Fret?

Verse 2 explains: the wicked’s success is fleeting. They’ll “soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.” In Israel’s climate, grass thrives briefly in spring, only to wither under the hot hamsin wind. This imagery underscores the temporary nature of unrighteous gain. Like Asaph in Psalm 73, David reminds us that what seems like triumph now is a mirage in light of eternity. Paul echoes this: “For the present form of this world is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31, ESV).

The Spiritual Danger

Fretting isn’t just unproductive—it’s harmful. It breeds discontent, erodes trust in God’s goodness, and tempts us to compromise our integrity. Envy questions God’s sovereignty, as if He’s unfair to bless the wicked. Yet, as Adam Clarke notes, “Whether they are godly or ungodly, it is God who is the dispenser of the bounty they enjoy; and, most assuredly, he has a right to do what he will with his own.” Instead of fixating on their temporary gains, we’re called to an eternal perspective, trusting God’s timing and justice.

This context frames the psalm’s later promises. True fulfillment doesn’t come from comparing ourselves to others but from redirecting our focus to God. The wicked’s fate frees us to pursue a higher calling: delighting in the Lord.

The Counsel: Trust and Do Good (Verse 3)

David shifts from warning to guidance in verse 3: "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness" (ESV). These four imperatives offer a roadmap for righteous living amid a crooked world.

Trust in the Lord

The Hebrew בָּטַח (batach) means to rely on or find security in. Trusting God is an active choice to lean on Him, not circumstances. It’s the antidote to fretting—replacing worry with confidence in His faithfulness. Spurgeon says, “Faith cures fretting,” noting that sight envies, but faith sees reality and finds peace.

Do Good

Despite the wicked’s actions, we’re to “do good”—to persist in righteousness. This isn’t contingent on others’ behavior but reflects our commitment to God’s character. As Galatians 6:9 urges, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (ESV). It’s a call to integrity, even when it seems unrewarded.

Dwell in the Land

For Israel, the land symbolized God’s promise. “Dwell” implies settling down, enjoying His provision where He’s placed us. Spiritually, it’s about contentment—abiding in God’s blessings rather than chasing what the wicked have. It counters envy with gratitude.

Befriend Faithfulness

The phrase וּרְעֵה אֱמוּנָה (ur'eh emunah), translated “befriend faithfulness,” is rich. רְעֵה (r'eh) means to pasture or tend, and אֱמוּנָה (emunah) is faithfulness. Some render it “feed on faithfulness” or “cultivate faithfulness.” It’s an invitation to nurture a life of steadfast devotion to God, making faithfulness our sustenance and companion.

A Unified Call

Together, these commands redirect us from the wicked’s path to God’s. Trust replaces anxiety, doing good counters compromise, dwelling fosters contentment, and befriending faithfulness builds endurance. This is practical wisdom: instead of fretting, we live out our faith, preparing our hearts for the delight that follows.

The Core: Delight in the Lord (Verse 4)

The heart of the psalm beats in verse 4: "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (ESV). This is both a command and a promise, pivotal to understanding true fulfillment.

What Does "Delight" Mean?

The Hebrew הִתְעַנֵּג (hit'anneq), from עָנַג ('anaq), means to take exquisite delight or find great pleasure. It’s not casual enjoyment but a deep, soul-stirring joy in God Himself. Think of savoring a rare delicacy—delighting in the Lord is to relish His presence, character, and love above all else. Psalm 16:11 captures it: “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (ESV).

Delighting in God, Not Just His Gifts

This delight isn’t about what God gives—health, wealth, success—but who He is. Too often, we seek His hand, not His face. Yet, as Jeremiah 2:13 warns, turning to “broken cisterns” leaves us empty, while God is the “fountain of living waters.” Delighting in Him means finding Him our greatest treasure, as Jesus taught: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).

How Do We Delight?

Cultivating this delight requires intention. It grows through:

Worship: Praising God shifts our focus to His worth.

Prayer: Communing with Him deepens intimacy.

Scripture: Meditating on His Word reveals His heart.

Derek Kidner calls it “a deliberate redirection of one’s emotions.” Paul and Silas embodied this, singing in prison (Acts 16:25), proving delight transcends circumstances. It’s a choice to set our affections on God, not lesser pleasures.

The Effort Involved

Delighting isn’t automatic. F.B. Meyer writes, “We must withdraw our eager desires from the things of earth, fastening and fixing them on Him.” This might mean relinquishing idols—ambition, comfort, approval—to prioritize God. The more we know Him, the more we delight, as James Boice notes: “The reason many apparent Christians do not delight in God is that they do not know him very well, and the reason they do not know him very well is that they do not spend time with him.”

The Result

When God is our delight, we echo Psalm 73:25: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (ESV). This sets the stage for the promise: as we delight, He shapes our desires and fulfills them in His way.

The Promise: Desires of Your Heart (Verse 4)

The promise follows: “and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4, ESV). But what does this mean?

Defining "Desires"

The Hebrew מִשְׁאֲלֹות (mish'alot), from שָׁאַל (sha'al), means requests or longings—what we ask for. It’s personal, reflecting our heart’s deepest cries.

A Transformative Promise

This isn’t a carte blanche for selfish wants. Delighting in the Lord transforms us. As we find joy in Him, our desires align with His will. Ezekiel 36:26-27 promises a new heart, responsive to God’s ways. Spurgeon explains, “The desires of the righteous are not for riches, or honour...but for purity, usefulness, grace, and communion with God.”

God’s Perfect Provision

God fulfills these reshaped desires, but not always as we expect. We might pray for a job, and He provides a better one—or patience to wait. We might seek healing, and He grants strength to endure. His answers are perfect, tailored to our good (Romans 8:28). As Spurgeon quips of Luther, “There comes a man that can have anything of God he likes”—because Luther’s delight aligned with God’s heart.

The Ultimate Desire

The greatest desire of a delighted heart is God Himself. When He is our joy, He gives us more of Himself—our truest fulfillment. Alexander Maclaren writes, “Longings fixed on Him fulfill themselves.” This is Christian Hedonism: pursuing pleasure in God, finding He is the reward.

God’s Delight in Us

This promise is reciprocal. Proverbs 15:8 says, “The prayer of the upright is his delight” (ESV). God loves granting our God-honoring requests, especially when we long to know Him more.

The Application: Commit Your Way (Verse 5) 

David concludes: "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act" (Psalm 37:5, ESV).

Trust Again

“Trust” (batach) reappears, emphasizing reliance. It’s believing God’s ways are best (Isaiah 55:9).

He Will Act

God promises to act—working for our good and His glory. Not fame or fortune, but His perfect will, as Proverbs 16:9 says: “The LORD establishes his steps” (ESV). This is daily surrender, trusting His timing.

True Fulfillment in God

Psalm 37:1-5 offers wisdom over worry. Don’t fret—the wicked fade. Instead, trust, do good, dwell, and befriend faithfulness. At its core, delight in the Lord, and He’ll give your heart’s desires—transformed by His love. Commit your way, and He’ll act.

True fulfillment isn’t in getting what we want but in wanting God. As we delight in Him, He becomes our joy, our reward. In a world of fleeting pleasures, Psalm 37 calls us to the eternal: “In your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11, ESV).