What’s the biblical meaning of Psalm 37:4?

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Teacher & Expositor. Let’s bring the quality of being clear and easy to understand to this precious and exceedingly great promise from God. We read, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). This verse is easily and often misapplied, as are many such references to the promises of God. Many believers delight in wealth, status, material possessions, and other temporary things of this world, but they are never satisfied. They never truly get what they want, hence the reason they are always wanting more. On the other hand, delighting in the Lord is true treasure indeed: “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). What is the psalmist declaring? He means that when you find joy and satisfaction in God, your desires will naturally align with His will, and He will fulfill those desires that are in harmony with His purpose for your life! Contrary to popular belief, this is not a promise of God granting whatever you desire, but rather a call to develop and cultivate a heart that finds fulfillment in God, leading to desires that reflect His character and lead to a more satisfying life! Remember, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him! The Hebrew word translated as “delight” here is from a root word that implies pleasure and satisfaction. In context with the surrounding verses (Psalm 37:3, 5), this clearly refers to those whose desires are in harmony with those of God. In the Dr. Taylor vernacular, a person who delights in the Lord has righteous and godly desires. He or she will not desire anything that springs from selfish desires! No one in their right mind can expect God to give something contrary to God’s will, or the Lord's glory. In other words, a truly joyful life, one which extends through eternity, is based on our delighting ourselves in the Lord. The book of Ecclesiastes traces Solomon's search for satisfaction and meaning in a variety of things, but his search led only to emptiness until he found delight and meaning in a personal relationship with God. At the end of the book Solomon counsels his readers: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Not sure where to start today? Start with delighting in Jesus! Be encouraged!