“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4
The great value of a good tool is that in using it, one can accomplish wonderful things, even great things. Faith is not a tool, but faith is a means by which much can be accomplished in the kingdom of God. Essential to true faith are certain priorities that are clearly defined, and pursued. In David’s Psalm 37, a stand is taken with regard to faith in God. This is the first thing, not to just know about trusting God, its necessity and means by which it is done, but the position deliberately taken to not move from that attitude. It is like the example of Shammah, one of David’s mighty men. Scripture tells us that even though the people of Israel fled before the Philitines, Shammah took his stand in the midst of a piece of ground full of lentils. He did so alone, and defended it, and slew the Philistines. As a result of his faith, the taking up of that position of faith, “…the Lord wrought a great victory.” (2 Samuel 23:12) The attitude of faith revealed to us in Psalm 37 is like that of Shammah. It is the taking of a position of faith in God, refusing to reliquish that position, and stand. This is that faith that is described by the author of the epistle of Hebrews as follows: “…for he who comes to God, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6) True faith is fixed in God, and in Him alone. But it is a faith that believes in the God who rewards, or intervenes, and reveals his glory. Where there is the true seeking of God in faith, there is always the response of God.
So David begins with a position of faith. But then, he moves on to an aspect of that faith that is primary. It is that of delighting oneself in the Lord. What does he mean by this, and why is this so very important? A true understanding of who God is, is essential for the true worship of God. When Moses asked God, that he might see the glory of God, the Lord responded by passing before him, proclaiming: “…The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in truth.” (Ex. 34:6) Prior to this the Lord had told Moses that He would make “all His goodness” pass before him. The great desire of Moses was to see the glory of God for there is none in heaven nor in the earth that compares with Him. He is perfect, good, holy, love, and a thousand things more. There is none so lovely, gracious, beautiful, glorious, powerful and faithful as the one David is seeking to delight himself in, the One who Moses sought to see above all others on earth. Even the remembrance of the man-made glories of Egypt were nothing compared to one glimpse of Christ. So, the position of faith in God by David now shifts to the glory of the Object of his faith, delighting in Him. The Apostle Paul writes in the same manner about the same thing: “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice.” (Phil 4:4) What is he saying? He is saying that there is not a moment, hour, day, or circumstance when we are not to delight ourselves in God, in Christ. This is for the same reason that Moses rejoiced in God, as did David. There is none in heaven and earth that compares with Christ in the beauty and wonder of His person. It must be said that, as God is a rewarder of those that trust Him wholly, so, in worship, He is a rewarder. Those who delight themselves in Christ will be given Christ’s desires, to be fulfilled in the life. In Psalm 145, David writes: “He (the Lord) will fulfill the desires of them that fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.” (v.19)
Dear Father, Give us Thy desires. In Jesus’ name, Amen.