Salmos 37

Salmos 37

Henry - "If God give us Himself to be our joy, He will deny us nothing that is good for us. No delight is comparable to the delight which gracious souls have in the Almighty; and those that acquaint themselves with him, and submit themselves entirely to him, shall find his favor to be, not only their strength, but their song." Ultimately, where then is GENUINE DELIGHT TO BE FOUND?—the answer is simple, in Christ alone. Find your chief joy in life in Him. In Christ Alone In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song This Cornerstone, this solid Ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My Comforter, my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand. In Christ alone! - who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe. This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again And as He stands in victory Sin's curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand Till He returns or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I'll stand. Where Is true "DELIGHT"? IN CHRIST ALONE Not in Unbelief—Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.” Not in Pleasure—Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.” Not in Money—Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.” Not in Position and Fame—Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.” Not in Military Glory (Might)—Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, because he said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.” Delight thyself also in the Lord! Trust in him was recommended before, and now, this being added also, how plain is it that your ease and rest is the thing designed! Is it fit to receive so much kindness with neglect? Again, he delights in you; I speak to such of whom this may be supposed. And it is indefinitely said, "His delights were with the sons of men, "Proverbs 8:31. Think what he is, and what you are; and at once, both wonder and yield. And what else have you to delight in? what thing will you name that shall supply the place of GOD, or be to you in the stead of him? Moreover, who should delight in him but you—his friends, his sons, those of his own house? Think what life and vigour it will infuse into you, and that "the joy of the Lord will be your strength, "Nehemiah 8:10. How pleasantly will you hold on your course, and discharge all the other duties of this your present state? You must serve him. Dare you think of throwing off his yoke? How desirable is it then to take delight in him whom I must serve; which only makes that service acceptable to him, and easy to myself! Further, this is a pleasure none can rob you of; a joy that cannot be taken from you. Other objects of your delight are vanishing daily. Neither men nor devils can ever hinder you delighting in God, if your hearts be so inclined. And were you never brought to take pleasure in any person or thing to which you had a former aversion? One that had wronged you might yet possibly win you by after kindness. Give a reason why you should be more difficult towards the blessed God that never wronged you, and whose way towards you hath constantly imported so much good will! And consider that your condition on earth is such as exposes you to many sufferings and hardships, which, by your not delighting in him, you can never be sure to avoid (for they are things common to men), but which, by your delighting in him, you may be easily able to endure. Besides all this, seriously consider that you must die. You can make no shift to avoid that. How easily tolerable and pleasant will it be to think, then, of going to him with whom you have lived in a delightful communion before! And how dreadful to appear before him to whom your own heart shall accuse you to have been (against all his importunities and allurements) a disaffected stranger! John Howe's "Treatise of Delight in God." James Smith - "Delight yourself in the Lord — and He will give you the desires of your heart!" Psalm 37:4 Sin has taken our attention off of God — and fixed it upon ourselves, or the things around us. Grace calls our attention off of everything else — to fix it upon God. It directs us to . . . look to the Lord, come to the Lord, trust in the Lord, wait on the Lord, hope in the Lord, and even delight in the Lord. "Delight yourself in the Lord." Take delight — not in health, or wealth, or position, or character, or friends, or in anything that is changeable — but in the unchangeable Lord. Delight yourself in His glorious character — as gracious, merciful, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Delight yourself in Him, as . . . the father of the fatherless, the friend of the friendless, the hope of the wretched, and the Savior of the lost. Delight yourself in His gracious covenant, which . . . anticipates your needs, provides for your needs, limits your trials, and provides strength for the day, as every day's work requires. Delight yourself in His paternal relation. He is not only your God — but your Father! He cares for you, with a father's care! He loves you, with a father's love! He pities you, with a father's pity! He will receive you to Heaven, as to your father's house! Delight yourself in his precious promises. They are but drops from His ocean of love! They are intended to . . . show His love, display His grace, manifest His care, draw out your confidence, banish your fear, and assure you of all necessary supplies. Delight yourself in his special providence. A providence that . . . marks your steps, directs your paths, measures your troubles, bounds the rage of your enemies, numbers the very hairs of your head, and makes all things work together for your good! God in His providence, superintends all your affairs, even the most minute — so that nothing can happen to you by 'chance', or inadvertently do you harm! "Delight yourself in the Lord." This is more than . . . hope in the Lord, or believe in the Lord, or wait on the Lord, or love the Lord, or even rejoice in the Lord. To delight is to make God your joy, your exceeding joy, your highest pleasure. Peter speaks of "rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory!" and David says, "I would go unto God, unto God my exceeding joy!" Here are our patterns. But if we would delight ourselves in the Lord, then . . . we must often and devoutly read what He has said of himself in his word; we must seriously and prayerfully think over it; we must realize its truth and importance; we must trust in his faithfulness and love; we must walk with him in familiar and holy fellowship; and we must resign ourselves and all we have to him to be used by him, and disposed of just as he sees fit. THE INDUCEMENT. "Delight yourself in the Lord — and he will give you the desires of your heart!" If we delight ourselves in the Lord — then our principal and ruling desire will be his glory. Our hearts' daily cry will be, "Let the Lord be glorified!" We shall drink into his holy mind, and becoming like-minded with him — thus we shall desire only those things that please him. Our subordinate desires will be generated by his grace, and be regulated by his holy word. He will therefore gratify us, by giving what we wish, or by working what we desire. He will satisfy us, by bringing our minds into unison with his, so that with Jesus we shall say, "Not my will — but may yours be done." He will delight us, either by giving us what we ask for — or some sweet manifestation of his love and grace instead. What we desire, or somethingbetter — he will give us, if we delight ourselves in him. The way to be happy then — is to delight in God. To ensure our own way — is to seek the Lord's. God's will is best and wisest — ours therefore must be subordinate. Delight in creatures only produces disappointment, dissatisfaction, and discomfort; but delight in God ensures satisfaction, comfort, and certainty. To delight in God, is only to prefer . . . the ever-flowing fountain — to the shallow stream; the glorious sun — to the dim candle! the fullness — to the shallow vessel. We have never made God our object and our end — without being blessed. We have never preferred the creature — without smarting for it. Delight in God — is one of the elements of the happiness of Heaven; and is at once the joy and dignity of our ransomed nature. Delight in creatures— is a great cause of the misery and unhappiness of earth; and proves that . . . our nature is fallen, our hearts are corrupt, and our understandings are darkened. Gracious Lord, teach us to delight . . . in you, in your law, in your people, in your ways, in approaching to you, in doing your will, in suffering your pleasure — that in any way and every way we may promote your glory! O Lord, I would delight in you, And on your care depend; To you in every trouble flee, My best, my only friend! When all created streams are dried, Your fullness is the same; May I with this be satisfied, And glory in your name! No good in creatures can be found But may be found in thee; I must have all things, and abound, While God is God to me. Getting What We Want Read: Psalm 21:1-7 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. —Psalm 37:4 A certain airline pilot had a peculiar habit. Whenever he took off from his hometown of Minneapolis, he would ask the copilot to take the controls. Then he would stare intently out the window for a few moments. Finally the copilot’s curiosity got the best of him, so he asked, “What do you always look at down there?” “See that boy fishing on that riverbank?” the pilot asked. “I used to fish from that same spot when I was a kid. Whenever a plane flew over, I would watch it until it disappeared and wish that I could be the pilot.” With a sigh he added, “Now I wish I could be back down there fishing.” It’s natural to spend time thinking about where we’d like to be or what we’d like to have. But we must evaluate our desires to make sure they are consistent with what God says will truly satisfy. King David found satisfaction by putting first things first. His joy was rooted in the strength of the Lord and the salvation He provided (Ps. 21:1-2). It was because David sought the Lord that God gave him the desires of his heart (37:4). Fret not for want of earthly things— They'll never satisfy; The secret of contentment is To let the Lord supply. —DJD Contentment comes when we realize God has everything we need. Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. BGT Psalm 36:5 ἀποκάλυψον πρὸς κύριον τὴν ὁδόν σου καὶ ἔλπισον ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν καὶ αὐτὸς ποιήσει NET Psalm 37:5 Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. LXE Psalm 37:5 Disclose thy way to the Lord, and hope in him; and he shall bring it to pass. NLT Psalm 37:5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. KJV Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. ESV Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. NIV Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ASV Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto Jehovah; Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass. CSB Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act, NKJ Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. NRS Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. YLT Psalm 37:5 Roll on Jehovah thy way, And trust upon Him, and He worketh, Commit: Heb. Roll thy way upon, Ps 22:8 55:22 Pr 16:3 *marg: Mt 6:25 Lu 12:22,29,30 Php 4:6,7 1Pe 5:7 and He will do it: Job 22:28 Ec 9:1 La 3:37 Jas 4:15 Commit your way to the LORD - "Give it over into God’s hands, and then confide in him as completely as a little child confides in its mother. Give it up to him to rule it, and to guide thee and lead thee in every step. Put the helm of your ship into the hand of the Almighty Pilot. Leave the guidance of your pilgrimage to him who has led many caravans across the desert aforetime, and who has never suffered any to perish. What an easy way this is; and yet how hard do we find it to carry it out! It is to unload ourselves, and put our burden on our God. Oh, that we had the sanctified common-sense to make us fulfill this duty!" (Spurgeon) Treasury of David on Commit thy way unto the Lord. Roll the whole burden of life upon the Lord. Leave with Jehovah not thy present fretfulness merely, but all thy cares; in fact, submit the whole tenor of thy way to him. Cast away anxiety, resign thy will, submit thy judgment, leave all with the God of all. What a medicine is this for expelling envy! What a high attainment does this fourth precept indicate! How blessed must he be who lives every day in obedience to it! Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Our destiny shall be joyfully accomplished if we confidently entrust all to our Lord. We may serenely sing Thy way, not mine, O Lord, However dark it be; O lead me by thine own right hand, Choose out the path for me." "Smooth let it be or rough, It will be still the best; Winding or straight, it matters not, It leads me to thy rest." "I dare not choose my lot, I would not if I might; But choose Thou for me, O my God, So shall I walk aright." "Take thou my cup, and it With joy or sorrow fill; As ever best to thee may seem, Choose thou my good and ill." Trust also in Him, and He will do it. - KJV = “He shall bring it to pass.”