If, Then

“Trust in Adonai, and do good; settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness.  Then you will delight yourself in Adonai, and he will give you your heart’s desire.” Psalm 37: 3-4

The first time I heard this verse, it didn’t have the “then” in it.  It just said to delight myself in Adonai. Sounds good!  Let’s go!  But, wait…  what does it mean to delight myself in someone or something, especially in God?!  Then I realized there was a missing word.  The statement I had heard so often was part of an if-then cause and effect chain!  It tells me how to delight in Adonai!  IF I trust in Him and do good, IF I settle in the land (the promised land… the place He plants me), IF I feed on faithfulness, THEN I will delight myself in Adonai.  It’s about trusting, settling (which implies that I’m being still, staying where He puts me, and working in the place and on the tasks He gives me), and feeding on faithfulness (which sounds like I’m surviving and growing by relying on and remembering His faithfulness… which, in turn, should grow faithfulness in me).  So, it’s not just a matter of *poof* delighting.  There are some things that I do that create delight.  And that delight has its own reward, that He gives me the desires on my heart (which, incidentally, if I’m doing what I’m supposed to, will line up with God’s purposes for me).  That’s pretty awesome!