The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 37:4

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Delight in God.

"Delight thyself," etc. The order of these words makes all the difference between a religion of selfishness and a religion of love. Not, "The Lord will give you what your heart is set on; therefore delight in him;" but, "Delight thyself in the Lord; let him be thy Joy—Fountain of happiness and Object of desire; then thy most earnest petitions, deepest wants, highest aspirations, shall all be satisfied in him." Delight in God includes satisfaction and joy—

I. IN GOD HIMSELF. That is, so far as he has made himself known to us—who and what he is, in whom we have our being.

1. His glory as the eternal and infinite Creator; his power, wisdom, goodness, perpetual presence and unfailing care of his universe.

2. Yet more in his character—his love, righteousness, unchangeable truth (John 1:18; John 14:9).

II. IN OUR PERSONAL RELATION TO HIM—THAT HE IS OUR GOD AND FATHER. (1 John 3:1; Ephesians 2:1-10.) There is nothing selfish, presumptuous, or exclusive in this joy. The more we have it, the humbler we shall be; more desirous that others should share it; more qualified to influence them to seek and obtain it.

III. IN CONVERSE WITH HIM. This is the most marked and glorious characteristic of the psalms generally—real, living communion with God (comp. Philippians 4:4-7).

IV. IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM. "To live in the fear of God is not without its pleasure. It composes the soul, expels the vanity which is not without vexation, represses exorbitant motions, checks unruly passions, keeps all within in a pleasant, peaceful calm" (John Howe).

CONCLUSION. There is a deep secret of a happy life—must we not say a sadly neglected secret, even among real Christians? Unselfish delight in God is doubtless a high attainment. But is it out of reach? Surely not, when to the glorious knowledge of all that God is in himself is added the blessed certainty that he is our Father in Christ Jesus. This should be sunshine in darkest days. Yet let no Christian be discouraged because consciously very deficient in this respect. "That some are less sensibly and passionately moved with the great things of God (and even with the discovery of his love) than some others, doth not argue them to have less of the Spirit, but more of that temper which better comports with deeper judgment and a calm consideration of things.… Though flax set on fire will flame more than iron, yet withal it will smoke more, and will not glow so much, nor keep heat so long" (Howe).

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