Corrective Vision
You have given him his heart’s desire Psalm 21:2
Heart’s Desire – Did David really mean that God gave him whatever he wanted? Is it true that once we are obedient God will fulfill all our desires? Do we just have to “name it and claim it?”
In the Psalms study group that I attend, one of the women pointed out that taking this verse out of the context of a life dedicated to God’s purposes changes everything about its meaning. The short answer to the question, “Did David really mean that God gave him his heart’s desires?” is “Yes.” God does give us what our hearts most desire. But if we are fully committed to His service and live according to His instructions, then it is our desires that are transformed. They are altered so that they reflect God’s purposes. Then, when God gives us what we desire (which is the fulfillment of His purposes for His glory), there is no discrepancy at all between what we want and what He wants us to have. That’s when we can say, “He gave me all that I desired.”
If you take the verse out of the context of submission and obedience, then you might as well give God your Christmas list, for He becomes nothing more than the pagan Santa Claus.
The Hebrew word here is ta’awah. It describes something that is attractive and delightful. Solomon would say that it was a delight to the eyes. Of course, there are a lot of things in this world that delight the eyes. The Bible uses this word to describe fertile land, abundant crops and treasures. The Bible claims that the righteous will have their desires fulfilled (Proverbs 10:24). So, the question is not about God’s willingness or capacity to realize our desires. The question is about what we see! What is it that delights your eyes?
Now we come to the heart of the matter. Paul, good rabbi that he is, comments on this problem. He tells us to pursue only some things – those things which are the ultimate delights of life. What are they? How about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
By the way, the Hebrew word ta’awah has a homophone (a word that sounds the same and is spelled the same but means something different). Words like this occur in Hebrew quite often since Hebrew is written only in consonants. So, the combination of consonants T-A-W-H occurs in another word, a word that means “an outer boundary.” It is used in Genesis 49:26 to describe the farthest boundary of the land. It’s the place where my vision stops. That’s interesting. Apparently ta’awah could be interpreted as the end of my sight. What I find within the boundary is a delight to God and a desire for me. But there are other things. They are outside the boundary. They are beyond my vision – and they are to be left there. Out of sight. Out of mind.
What do you see inside your boundary today that delights both you and God?
Topical Index: ta’awah, desire, sight, boundary, delight, Psalm 21:2
Psalm 73:25,26 speaks of the LORD being my portion, thus HE is my delight. My eyes are focused on Him and not the natural circumstances surrounding me. I agree that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is the ulitmate desire. Check out the link for this topic: The Lord Is My Portion There Is Nothing Upon Earth That I Desire Beside Thee:
http://www.topical-bible-studies.org/19-0010.htm
You have given him his heart’s desire Psalm 21:2
Hi Skip,
Please bear with me. I have some fundamental questions about this text.
If you would be so kind as to answer them, I would appreciate it very much.
If David wrote this, some scholars say he didn’t, why doesn’t he write “you have given me my heart’s desire?”
Is there an explanation for this?
And, if I’m not mistaken, God also gave him a wife named Michal and created him with a “desire” to commit adultery with Bathsheba.
As recall, there is no implication that the devil made him do it.
As I understand it, David also had Bathsheba’s husband and his own faithful servant, Uriah, killed.
To me this is an extroardinary story of forgiveness on God’s part.
I understand your point about “desire for God,” but David’s “desire” to do evil deeds also jumps out at me.
Frankly, it has always been hard for me to understand this story from a “Christian” perspective.
Mike
The answer is long. First, remember that Hebrew has no punctuation, so you have to determine the possessive pronouns by the positioning in the sentence and the context and the textual clues. There is no apostrophe to help us with this. So, that means to need to understand the Hebrew idea of “desire” before we can understand how David uses the word. (It really doesn’t matter is David actually wrote this since the interpretation issues remain the same). So, I recommend reading the Talmud on the concept of yetzer ha’ra (the evil impulse). This will help. I discuss the issue in my new audio on Genesis 1-4.
Now look at the text carefully. Does David really say that God gives him what HE desires, or does he say that he wants God to give the DESIRES that should be in his heart?
What makes sense in terms of the statement that David is a man “after my own heart”? David’s desire that results in sin is not what this poem is about. What David expresses is God’s desires placed in David’s heart so that God’s desires become the desires of David.
There is a lot more. Get the audio when it is available.
Skip
Thanks Skip. Appreciate your help!
a very similar verse or parallel thought to this is Psalm 37.4 Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will
give you the desires of your heart. I have found in this man’s life as I continually seek the LORD, as in spending quality time with Him, praying, meditating, worshipping, singing and just realizing and recognizing His presence with me throughout the course of my common round of life, He is changing me from the inside out. I am not who I was. Messiah/Christ lives in me. And Jesus loves me, this I know. I am in the process of becoming more like Him everyday. Am I perfect? I laugh on your lapel. Am I then a sinner? Absolutely. Is G-d holy? Absolutely. Where then is the middle ground or the meeting place between a G-d who is holy and a sinful man such as myself? I delight myself in Him whose name is “Yeshua”- “Salvation”. I delight in His abundant pardon, provision, protection, and Presence. He Himself is becoming to me with the passing of every day- the desire and delight of my heart. The delightful thing about this also is- I realize He is the One who is performing this transformation. It seems like all I do is “show up!” But when I “show up”, He “shows up.” There is such a sweetness of communion in secret, silent prayer. I wish we would speak more about silent, meditative prayer- the “be still and know” kind. When we truly worship ( those of you reading this would agree), there is no thrill on the planet to compare. Not jetskiing, ski jumping, four-wheeling, bronco riding, or etc.- there is nothing better, nothing better than worship from a heart that has been made clean. Absolutely nothing comes close. This is apparently is a well-kept secret and I have to wonder why? David, we are told was a man after G-d’s own heart. I do like this man’s story. All through the Hebrew hymnal we see the ups and downs of someone just like us. Someone who is less than perfect but whose desire was to know and honor the unseen Presence who He knew was his Shepherd and Savior. David sinned. -How about that. He is less than perfect. So am I and even though I don’t know you at all I’ll be willing to say neither are you. I have only met One who is perfect. Jesus Christ is the One who is Righteous. Because He has forgiven me and set me free from the master I used to serve, my delight and desire is to please Him in all I think, say and do. He alone is my heart’s desire and I long to worship Him. He is worthy!