Delighting in the Lord According to Psalm 37:4
Delighting in the Lord According to Psalm 37:4
Psalm 37:4 reads, "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart" [1]. This verse is part of a larger psalm that encourages trust in the Lord and warns against envying the wicked.
The literary context of Psalm 37:4 is a wisdom psalm that exhorts the reader to trust in God's providence and to cultivate a life of righteousness. The surrounding verses emphasize the importance of doing good, dwelling in the land, and trusting in the Lord (Psalm 37:3-5) [7].
The phrase "delight yourself in the LORD" is understood by some as aligning oneself with God's way in order to enjoy Him [2]. The Hebrew term for "delight" ( Hebrew: התענג, hit'anag) implies a deep pleasure or enjoyment. In the Jewish tradition, Rashi interprets this as enjoying delights provided by God, saying "Enjoy delights by being supported by the Holy One, blessed be He" [3].
The second part of the verse, "And He will give you the desires of your heart," has been interpreted in various ways. Some see it as a promise that God will fulfill the desires of those who delight in Him. John Gill notes that this delight is not just in God's attributes or works, but also in His people and His word [4]. In the Reformed tradition, John Calvin understands this verse in the context of the believer's sanctification and the mortification of their own desires, rather than a straightforward granting of worldly wishes [6].
The Babylonian Talmud offers another perspective, linking the fulfillment of desires to the study of Torah. Rabbi Avdimi bar Ḥama says that anyone who engages in Torah study will have their desires fulfilled by God [5].
The interpretation of Psalm 37:4 has been influential in Christian and Jewish traditions. It has been seen as a call to cultivate a deep relationship with God, and to trust in His providence. As such, it has shaped the spiritual practices and theological reflections of many communities.
The verse continues to be a source of comfort and guidance, encouraging believers to prioritize their relationship with God and to trust in His goodness.
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 37:4 (NASB) — Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 37:4: 37:4 To take delight in the Lord means aligning with the Lord’s way in order to enjoy him.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Psalms 37:4: So shall you delight in the Lord Enjoy delights by being supported by the Holy One, blessed be He.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 37:3: Delight thyself also in the Lord,.... 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; and he shall give thee the desires of thine h”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah 153b.37:7: The Gemara cites other interpretations of this verse. Rabbi Avdimi bar Ḥama says: With regard to anyone who engages in the study of Torah, the Holy One, Blessed be He, fulfills his desires, as it is stated: “But in the Torah of the Lord is his delight,” i.e., if one engages in the study of the Torah of the Lord, he will have his desires met by the Lord. Rava says, in accordance with the statement of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: A person should always learn Torah from a place in the Torah that his heart desires, as it is stated: “But his delight is in the Tora”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 64: us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven,” ( 2 Thess. 1:6, 7 ). This, indeed, is our only consolation; deprived of it, we must either give way to despondency, or resort to our destruction to the vain solace of the world. The Psalmist confesses, “My feet were almost gone: my steps had well nigh slipt: for I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked,” ( Psalm 73:3, 4 ); and he found no resting-place until he entered the sanctuary, and considered the latter end of the righteous and the wicked. To ”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 37:3: 37:3-4 The antidote to irritability and envy (37:1) is trust in the Lord. 37:3 To do good means cultivating a devotion to wisdom (see 34:14; Prov 3:5-7).”