Psalm 4 - Hope-Filled Lines!!!
This psalm of King David is one filled with hope and faith. It echoes what many of us have faced in our lives. When we have faced adversity or those who wrongfully accuse us, who do we turn to? Where can we find true justice - because we know for sure that we don't get any in the courts of our nations.
Psalm 4 gives us some of the answers to those questions. When it says....
Verse 1: "Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer."
The very first thing King David does when faced with adversity - especially adversity he can't is cry out to the Lord. When we are going through tough times, God should be the first person we turn to for help. It shouldn't be other people (even our spouses), it shouldn't be the media or celebrities, it shouldn't be food, drugs, alcohol or sex.
Not only does David call out to God, but he emphatically states what he knows God's view of him is, when he says "O God who declares me innocent". This is even more true now with the saving grace of our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If we repent of our sins, God is just to forgive us of those sins - making us innocent of wrongdoing in his eyes.
King David doesn't leave it there. He adds another layer to his cry to the Lord. He asks God to free him from his troubles. You get the feeling tat David isn't just talking about some trivial life annoyances, but is rather talking about some profound trial and trauma that he wants God to deliver him from. These days, such things are becoming more and more common as the world spirals out fo control. life seems to be getting harder and harder, and when things go wrong, they go so very wrong.
So David pleads for God to hear his prayers and to act mercifully. This is the same David who is a man after God's out heart. So, if David can be blunt and honest and cry out to God in this way - then we can too!!! And that is actually a refreshing notion, that we don't need to have this nice neat church packaged prayer in order for God to listen and act - we just need to be honest and open with him.
Verse 2: "How long will you people ruin my reputation? How long will you make groundless accusations? How long will you continue your lies? Interlude"
This verse is the most interesting, but out of place part of this scripture.
Why??? - Because it is aimed at other people, not God.
Here King David is crying out to his adversaries, and those that make false accusations agianst him.
He is pleading with them about why they are standing against him, and for how long.
Whilst, it doesn't look like it is directed at God, in a round about way it is. For if your are on one hand crying out to God, then towards your accusers - God's going to hear that too.
What is interesting to note, is that David puts in an interlude (or pause by the term Selah in some translations) here. It is like he is catching a breathe after the pain of trying to face his tormentors has washed over him. Sometimes we just need to take a breathe and re-orientate ourselves towards God. Which is what David soon does.
Verse 3: You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him."
Here, David returns to the faith he has in God, and God's character.
He states quite emphatically, - "You can be sure of this..." - this indicates that what is to follow is a statement of profound truth.
God sets apart those who are godly (or righteous), those who believe in Him and walk his path. And because the godly have a relationship with God, He will hear their prayers and respond to their cries.
This should be a source of hope for us all. God not only hears us, and our honest cries for his help - but he also answers.
The problem that we face with His response is that we are impatient people and we want God's answer right now - like 5 seconds after we pray for help. But God will act in his own timing, not ours. He will act in His will, not ours.
We should hold on to the fact that he WILL act on our behalf.
Verse 4: Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude"
This verse is a significant pice of godly wisdom from king David.
We often get angry about things that happen during the day. Be they situations at the shops, or at work, with family or at home. Anger is a normal, natural human emotion. But it is wrong when it seethes and grows in our hearts - this leads to bitterness.
David is saying don't respond to a situation in anger, be it physically or verbally. Let it go for a while - overnight is even better. That way your anger, and possibly the anger of the other people involved, settles - and clearer heads may prevail.
This course of action is vital in marriages, so that people are not responding to hurts out of anger.
Following David's suggestion can lead us to a place of forgiveness - which is what Jesus asks of us.
Verse 5: "Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the Lord."
While we do not need to conduct sacrifices to the Lord to cleanse us of our sins - as Jesus did that for us at Calvary - we do need to act in obedience to the instructions of God. We also need to continue to worship God with all of our hearts, minds and souls.
We need to consider the state of our hearts, and the attitudes we hold when we are worshipping God. If they are not right (or righteous) then we are less likely to trust the Lord.
It is when we are acting in our own flesh, and worshiping and doing ministry in our own strength and willpower - then we will be out of the will of God. Our trust in God will waver and fall away.
The answer to our problems is to - TRUST THE LORD!!!
Verses 6-8: "Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe."
The world and its agendas and lusts want 'better times' or perhaps something more relatable to us in our current time - "A return to normal!".
Yet, David turns that on its head and says that God gives us greater joy and peace (even if life isn't going our way) than those who seem to have all the wealth, and all the enjoyable things of life.
David not only accepts that peace anf joy he adds to its effectiveness. He says that in the face of his adversity he sleeps well at night because God watches over him and keeps him safe.
How many of us struggle with lack of sleep, or disrupted sleep cycles because we are stressed and anxious about what happened during the day, or what we can expect the following day. Yet, we could sleep soundly in the knowledge that God has our backs - that he will protect us from all things physical and spiritual.
If anyone had cause to be concerned about enemies, or those who intended to stand against him - it was King David. He faced demonic giants, warring family members, a mentally tormented former king, wild animals and enemy nations that waged war against him. Yet his faith in God gave him strength, peace and joy in the face of adversity and opposition.
I pray that even in the times of trouble in your life the Lord will give you peace and joy. May your prayers be heard and acted on by God. May His will be active in your life. May hope reside in your heart, strengthening your faith in the Lord Almighty. Blessing upon you and your family.
Written 19th Feb 2023…