“He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” (Psalm 145:19 ESV)
More than likely, we have all considered the “three wishes” scenario. In the storyline of many fairytales and legends, a magical genie or fairy appears to a character and offers to fulfill three wishes—which seems like a dream come true. In many stories, the main character ends up squandering the wishes, but the offer is still an attractive proposition which we have probably answered in our own minds at some point. Perhaps we would wish for an infinite bank account or a dream home or a slimmer body. We as humans like to imagine scenarios in which our greatest desires are fulfilled.
As we consider Psalm 145:19, however, David’s promise that the Lord “fulfills the desire of those who fear him” should not be seen as the offer of a genie in a bottle. God does not grant everything we ask just because we have asked it. Nor are all of our desires, borne as they are from a heart depraved by sin, worthy of fulfillment.
A similar verse, found in Psalm 37:4, sheds further light on David’s promise:
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Those in the Word of Faith and prosperity gospel circles often love to display these verses on church signs and websites to attract droves of people. Yet, the reason such temples of Satan are often bursting at the seams is not because Christ is preached but because the Christianity they profess is simply spiritualized materialism. Attendees have less concern for Christ than they do a desire to see their pockets lined and the square footage of their houses increased.
How grievous it is to see true and rich promises of God perverted into a vending machine to satiate fallen man’s never-ending passion for more.
When David says in both Psalm 145 and Psalm 37 that the Lord satisfies our desires, we cannot properly understand the promise unless we first understand its context. These promises are not universal and unconditional, as many claim, but have specific conditions in which they are true.
Who is it that receives this promise? “Those who fear him.” The fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7), should inform our desires. One of the primary aspects of human nature affected by the Holy Spirit’s work of regeneration is our affections and desires. Unregenerate desires will find the promises of the world, those peddled by the prosperity gospel, to be attractive because they are simply the desires of the world, the flesh, and the devil. In contrast, the desires of the true God-fearer will not be for the things that the world can offer but for those things gained as a child of God in union with Christ.
Similarly, when Psalm 37 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart,” we must understand that “delight” and “desire” go hand in hand. It is not as if we look to God as the object of our delight but then proceed to turn our desires to some other thing which he gives. Rather, if we delight in the Lord, our desire will be for the source of our delight, which is the very person and presence of the Lord.
When we come to Christ, we don’t keep our desires like we keep our phone number when we switch to a new carrier. When we come to Christ, he gives us new desires purified from the stain of sin, and he promises to fulfill those desires.
The Christian faith is not for those looking for an all-expenses-paid package where they can live their best life now. The Christian faith is for those who ache with longing for something good, true, and beautiful that will not fade from moth nor rust. It is for those looking for freedom from the burden of the guilt of sin that daily condemns them, as Bunyan’s Christian was. If such is your desire, hear David’s promise today and come to Christ, who “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
As the second part of the verse says, “he also hears their cry and saves them.” As God graciously and generously satisfies our daily needs, he stands ready to receive all who turn to him in faith. As the author of Hebrews says, Christ “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (7:25).
If you fear the Lord and desire to be near him, believe the promise before you today. Trust him in full confidence that he will fulfill your desire.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Your Word is true, and your promises are sure. May we boldly approach your throne through Christ, confident that we will receive from you all that is promised in Christ. When we desire that which is truly good, we may know that you will fulfill that desire in us. We thank you for this.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for missionaries experiencing complications with ministry transition and visa acquisition.
- Wednesday: Pray for missionaries engaged in fundraising for critical ministry initiatives.
- Thursday: Pray for missionaries in South Asia who are involved in education. If you have an interest in serving in this way, contact our Communications department for more information.
- Friday: Pray for missionaries leading spiritual retreats for students this month.
- Saturday: Pray for missionaries in Thailand who are laboring to meet the critical needs of those affected by massive flooding.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries in the Philippines serving with Obed’s House Ministries.
- Monday: Pray for missionaries serving in healthcare in Togo.
