Desire | Knowable Word

Context Matters: God Will Give You the Desires of Your Heart

January 21, 2019 By Ryan Higginbottom

W A T A R I (2018), public domain

If you’re a Christian, you may have heard that God has promised to give you the desires of your heart. That sounds amazing, doesn’t it?! Indeed, this quip has been used to justify both questionable actions and bad theology.

In this article, we will look at this phrase in its context, because context matters. When we learn to read the Bible properly—and not merely as a collection of one-liners and sound bites—we’ll find that some of the most famous passages take on different and deeper meanings than we’ve thought.

A Conditional Promise

We should begin with the most obvious fact. The phrase “he will give you the desires of your heart” is only half of a verse. Plucked clean and held up in the wind, this seems like an unconditional promise. But we must consider the entire verse!

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

That’s a harder pill to swallow. It’s a conditional promise—if you delight yourself in the Lord, then he will give you the desires of your heart. In the immediate context, this is powerful. If we desire God, he will give us our desires, which must include him!

But there’s more here. The first two verses of the psalm are an exhortation not to be envious of the wicked, “for they will soon fade like the grass.” Then verses 2–6 exhibit a pattern, as the reader is urged to love the Lord in various ways and he promises to respond and act. The parallel structure of these verses helps us understand what it means to “delight yourself in the Lord” and what it means that God “will give you the desires of your heart.”

Followers of God should “trust in the Lord and do good” (verse 3), “commit [their] way to the Lord” (5), and “trust in him” (5). Then God will grant them to “dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness” (3), “he will act” (5), and “he will bring forth [their] righteousness as the light, and [their] justice as the noonday” (6). Notice the circular pattern here—the more we commit our ways to God and trust in him, the more he will give us growth in righteousness, which leads to more trust in God.

The Larger Picture

The entire psalm is repetitive but instructive. The wicked will fade away and perish, but the righteous will inherit the land. David’s reference to “the land” throughout this psalm picks up on God’s covenant promise, dating back to the days of Abraham, to dwell with his people in their own land.

David goes on to describe the ways people pledge themselves to the Lord and the ways he cares for them.

How do the righteous act? They do not envy the wicked (verse 1); they are still before the Lord and wait for him (7); they do not worry about the ways the wicked prosper (7); they cease from anger and wrath (8); they wait for the Lord (9); they are meek (11); they are generous and giving (21); they delight in God’s way (23); they lend generously (26); they turn away from evil and do good (27); they speak wisdom and justice (30); they keep the law of God in their hearts (31); they wait for the Lord and keep his way (34); they are people of peace (37); and they take refuge in the Lord (40). These actions go along with delighting oneself in the Lord.

Now, how does God care for those that honor him? He will give them the land (9); he will give them land and abundant peace (11); he will turn back the plots of the wicked (15); he upholds them (17); he knows their days and their heritage will remain forever (18); he does not put them to shame in evil times (19); they have abundance in the days of famine (19); he will give them the land (22); he upholds their hand (24); he will not forsake them (28); they will dwell in the land forever (29); he will not allow them to be condemned when brought to trial (33); he will exalt them to inherit the land (34); he gives them salvation (39); he is their stronghold in troubled times (39); and he helps them, delivers them, and saves them (40). These blessings go along with receiving the desires of our hearts.

Conclusion

We cannot say that God will give us the desires of our hearts. If we delight in him, he will change our desires so that they glorify him, and he will satisfy those desires. He will even give us himself.

Psalm 37 is not the only place in the Bible that we see this glorious truth, but we can see it here if we read carefully. A sugary half-truth is no match for the deep, brilliant promises of God.

Context matters.

For more examples of why context matters, click here.

How to Love What Wisdom Loves

June 23, 2014 By Peter Krol

Desires are not as ingrained as we sometimes make them out to be. We treat them as part of our identity, as though “dog-lover” or “outdoorsman” are written somewhere in our genetic code. But a child who hates vegetables might enjoy broccoli after giving it a chance. And a man who gets dumped by the “love of his life” one week can discover sudden feelings for a new gal the next.

When the Lord exposes sinful desires, he expects to win us through offering something better. He expects our desires to change as we trust in Christ. Thus, simple ones can learn prudence and fools can learn sense (Prov 8:5) when they find that all they may desire cannot compare with wisdom (Prov 8:11).

We’ve seen in Proverbs 8:1-11 that wisdom is available to those who choose truth over wickedness, righteousness over crookedness, and instruction over material gain. Last week I gave a few diagnostic questions to test where you might be on each spectrum. If you find yourself living for wickedness, crookedness, or material gain, God wants you to change. Do you believe it’s possible?

For those who love wickedness over truth, know that Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6). He came into the world to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37). He spoke not on his own authority, but he spoke only what the Father commanded him to speak (John 12:49-50). Jesus spoke truth while he was on earth, and then he sent the Spirit of truth to guide us into all the truth (John 16:13). Though we set aside the truth for our wicked desires, Jesus never did. And when we trust in him, his Spirit won’t allow us to get too far from the truth.

For those who love crookedness over righteousness, know that Jesus is the righteous one (1 John 2:1). If you sin and get distracted from God’s straight path, you have an approved advocate before the Father. Jesus speaks as your defense attorney, arguing your case before the judge. And Jesus acts as your defense barrier (the meaning of “propitiation“), intercepting God’s wrath against your unholy desires and choices (1 John 2:2).

For those who love material gain over instruction, know that Jesus became to you wisdom from God (1 Cor 1:30). He who was rich became poor for your sake, so you through his poverty might become rich (2 Cor 8:9). He endured the cross, despising the shame, all for the joy set before him (Heb 12:2) – the joy of winning you!

Armed with this good news, you’re free to make different choices.

Gaze upon Christ the Truth, and you will love the truth. Spend more time in the Word, because it means spending more time with Jesus. Speak the truth to others, because you love them enough to bring them to Jesus. Get help with your finances and choose not to click the porn link, because you know the truth – that these things will make you more miserable and lead you away from Christ the Truth.

Gaze upon Jesus Christ the righteous, and you will love righteousness. Your life will become far more clear as the crookedness straightens out. Decisions will be easier, because the fogginess of sinful self-justification will lift. You’ll learn to choose to love God and love your neighbor, for on these two straightforward principles hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Gaze upon Jesus your wisdom from God, and you will love instruction. You’ll find that which you could never pay for. You’ll receive that which you could not earn. Your heart will soften, your sin won’t feel like something worth protecting, and you’ll know the fear of the Lord and the joy of godly change. Your stuff will become more useful than ever before, because you’ll see it as a tool for the kingdom and not as the end of happiness. You’ll be able to use it without having it use you.

So what should you do when you don’t love what wisdom loves? Love something else. Love Jesus, and you’ll learn some sense in the process.

Do You Love What Wisdom Loves?

June 16, 2014 By Peter Krol

Wisdom is available to all people who choose truth over wickedness, righteousness over crookedness, and instruction over material gain (Prov 8:1-11). Are you one of those people? The following questions may shake loose some areas for you to consider further application.

Koshy Koshy (2011), Creative Commons

Do you love truth or wickedness?

Does God’s word delight you, or are you happy to set it aside or ignore it?
Do you understand more about Christ and his mission than you used to?
Have you become a teacher by now, or do you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God?
Do you quarrel or quibble?
Do you bear witness to the truth, or do you prefer to withhold the message of salvation and its offer of forgiveness from people?
When was the last time you sought counsel on your budget?
Do you act as though pictures on a computer screen can really make you happy?

Do you love righteousness or crookedness?

Are you a man or woman of your word?
Where have you made peace with disobedience because life is “too complicated”?
What changes have you made recently because of God’s commands to you?
What excuses are you prone to make?
Are you a party to any unresolved conflicts?

Do you love instruction or material gain?

What would you do with a million dollars?
How would you fill in the blank? “I would feel much more stable if ___________.
Which category of book takes up more shelf space at home: read or unread?
What would your last bank statement say about what you value?
What would your schedule say about what you value?
Would you prefer to have someone correct you or praise you?

These questions are not exhaustive. They just came to mind as I tried to examine my heart, which now looks blacker than I expected. Join me next week in taking these things to the cross, so we can work together to repent and believe the good news.

Another Way to Look at Sexual Temptation

April 28, 2014 By Peter Krol

We commit sexual immorality, not because we are victims to our desires, but because we are looking for trouble. We’re then tempted to believe either that we have to try harder or that we’ll never change. But there is a better way.

Those who walk with Christ will say to wisdom, “You are my sister.” They will call insight their intimate friend (Prov 7:4).

Your desires can change. You can train your heart by grace to love the truth. When you write God’s words upon your heart, you gain a new perspective on the things that once tripped you up. Instead of passing along the street near immorality’s corner, you can look out from your window and out through your lattice (Prov 7:6).

Artondra Hall (2012), Creative Commons

The scene in Proverbs 7:6-9 fascinates me because Solomon and the youth both see the same set of events. But what they truly see couldn’t be any different.

The simple youth sees a secret, life-giving delight at the end of his path.
The wise sage sees an obvious but lethal deceit down the very same road.

God’s grace will train you to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions (Titus 2:11-13), because God, in his grace, will show you in his word what ungodliness and worldly passions have to offer: death, death, and more death.

Ask the Lord to show you your path and turn you to his. Write his commandments on your heart and live (Prov 7:2).

And when you find yourself on the wrong path under cover of darkness, whip out those words which can be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Ps 119:105). If they’re not already on your heart, ready to go, they won’t be much help to you when it counts.

Do you still want to look for trouble? I can assure you: You’ll find it.

Are you ready to look out upon trouble and reject it? Christ your wisdom can help.

Those Who Look for Trouble Always Find it

April 21, 2014 By Peter Krol

In Proverbs 7, Solomon unmasks immorality’s deception to help us stand against it. The problem, however, is that you and I usually don’t want to stand against it.

Now we’ll give plenty of lip service to “accountability” and “boundaries.” We love to wallow in guilt and misery. We whine about the springtime and about how it resurfaces hordes of scantily clad North American tribeswomen.

But when the sun goes down, and we think we’re alone, and we believe we’ll get away with it—we once again pass right down the street near her corner, taking the way to her house. We know exactly where Immorality keeps her residence, and we frequent her establishment and browse her seductive wares.

Looking for Trouble

6 For at the window of my house
I have looked out through my lattice,
7 and I have seen among the simple,
I have perceived among the youths,
a young man lacking sense,
8 passing along the street near her corner,
taking the road to her house
9 in the twilight, in the evening,
at the time of night and darkness. (Prov 7:6-9, ESV)

The Victim

Observe who is the “victim” here. He is the “simple,” one of “the youths” (Prov 7:7). He is the one who loves being simple (Prov 1:22). He could become wise, but he doesn’t yet want to. He refuses to receive prudence, knowledge, and discretion (Prov 1:4). He won’t turn at reproof (Prov 1:23-27).

This young man knows the right thing to do, but he won’t do it. All hope is not lost; there’s still time for him to change his mind and turn. He doesn’t need more information or education. He needs to fear the Lord (Prov 1:7).

Notice, though, how else he is described: “a young man lacking sense” (Prov 7:7). Though I believe, generally, that you don’t need to know Hebrew in order to study the Bible, there are times when wordplay doesn’t translate well. This is one of those cases.

The Hebrew word for “sense” is the same Hebrew word used in verse 3 for “heart.” Solomon says: My son, you must bind the commandments on your heart (v.3); but here is a young man lacking “sense/heart” (v.7). Dear reader, you must get this, lest you die: if you don’t write God’s words on your heart, you will lack anything of substance in your heart, and you will continue seeking trouble for yourself.

What does this mean?

Those who take the time to learn and study God’s words, memorizing them and delighting in them—these are the ones who find something more desirable than immorality. Because in loving God’s words, they love God himself. By drowning themselves in God’s words, they find saturation in God’s favor. With wisdom close at hand and intimate (Prov 7:4), they won’t feel the need for another (counterfeit) companion.

The Victim’s Tactics

Now, observe the victim’s tactics. He passes along the street near her corner. He takes the road to her house. He does it under cover of darkness. If you didn’t catch it, Solomon repeats this last point 4 times: twilight, evening, time of night, darkness (Prov 7:9).

Dennis Wong (2009), Creative Commons

The victim is actually the perpetrator. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He knows what road he’s on. He knows who lives on that corner. He could take a million different routes, but he chooses this one at this time because it will get him where he wants to go.

Here is the point: You are not a victim to your desires. You are not a slave to your sexual sin.

You and I are willing, intentional, conscious, premeditated, first-degree, voluntary, calculated, and deliberate partners with immorality. And what can we do about that?

Some people say, “I had better try harder. I’m not being good enough.” But this approach leads only to more death.

Others say, “I’ll never change.” The gospel-loving, spiritually sanctified version of this sentiment uses comforting terms like “besetting sin” and “deeply-rooted patterns.” But this approach often flies in the face of God’s call to repentance and drastic life change.

There is another way. I’ll write more of it next week.

Why We Do What We Do

November 19, 2012 By Peter Krol

What we do is a result of what we desire.

Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,
Would have none of my counsel
And despised all my reproof,
Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
And have their fill of their own devices. (Prov 1:29-31, ESV)

To understand this section, we must understand what the Bible teaches about desire. In particular, what we do is a result of what we desire. 2 Peter 3:3 states that those who scoff at the truth of God’s Word are simply “following their own sinful desires.” Jesus said that “the good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil,” just like different kinds of trees each produce their own kinds of fruit (Luke 6:43-45). This teaching means that we do certain things because we desire certain things.

For example, someone yells in anger because he doesn’t get the respect he wants from others. Someone else looks at pornography out of a desire for comfort, escape, control, or pleasure. Another person says foolish or untrue things because she desperately wants people to like her. In all our actions, what we do is a result of what we desire.

Now when someone believes in Jesus, the Spirit of God takes up residence within him, giving him new godly desires. Galatians 5:16-26 provides a good explanation of this person’s situation. God’s Spirit intercepts his slavery to the old “desires of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). Those old desires won’t give up easily, though, so a battle ensues over which desires will hold supremacy in his heart (Gal 5:17). The presence of such inner turmoil is a sign that he is growing in grace, even if it feels to him like he’s a miserable failure. Thus, he must be reminded constantly that he is free from the penalty of God’s law because Jesus died for him (Gal 5:18). The more he gives in to the old desires, however, the more he will commit sinful actions (Gal 5:19-21). The more he trusts in Jesus through his Spirit, the more he will demonstrate godly character and behavior (Gal 5:22-24). Over time, the Spirit gains more and more ground over the flesh, and the old desires decrease in frequency and power (Gal 5:24-26).

This process is what we normally call Christian growth, or sanctification, and it’s not easy.