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Psalm 4

David's glory wasn't the wonderful things he had done.  It wasn't even the fact that he was the king over God's special people.  It wasn't his great army, his fine house, or his grand horses.  Instead, David's great glory was God Himself.  It was the fact that he was a servant to that God, and that God cared for him and for all Israel with him.  In God he could truly glory.

Even so, though, there were many people of David's day, who, like many in our own day, scoffed at David's so-called relationship with God.  Mostly, they thought that David's "god" was just like all the imagined gods of the nations – that He was nothing more than an idol of wood or metal.  They considered David's faith to be nothing but superstition, a crutch that wouldn't help him if the chips were down, for instance if these enemies of his and their technologically superior armies came to crush him and "put him out of his misery."

An attack by just such unbelievers was the background for this psalm.  After the battle, when David had time to think about everything that had happened and how the Lord had given him a wonderful victory, he wrote this psalm to remind himself and future worshippers that "the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the Lord will hear when I call to Him."  After all, David's experience with God on this occasion was very adequate proof that Jehovah, unlike the gods of the nations, really relates in a living, daily, hourly way with each and every one of His beloved people.

So, with this testimony in mind, this psalm became the people's prayer as well as Davids.  It went on to remind them that their glory – GOD Himself - is always a far better help than the foolishness of their unbelieving and idolatrous enemies.  Then, after the people had responded to their song leader with these words, he went on to call them to even more confidence by singing out "But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the Lord will hear when I call to Him."

When the people had sung out this confidence, the leader next turned as if to call upon their enemies themselves.  He called them to quit their foolishness, to turn in repentance, to "be angry, and do not sin," to "Meditate within your own heart on your bed and be still," to "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord."

Continuing, the psalm reminds the worshippers that of course there are always "many who say, 'Who will show us any good?'"  But the song also answers such unbelief with a prayer that God would definitely answer by making a real, significant, and obvious difference in the course of the events through which they were living.  They sang, "Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us."  They were asking God to make clear to all His loving presence among them.

Finally, the cantor then closed with praise to this wonderful God Who really answers prayer.  He sang, "You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.  I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety!"  Words of confidence!

What about us?  Is our God different from the gods of the nations? Does He actually "hear when we call?"  Have we experienced answered prayer from the God Who is really there?  May we too pray for our God to reveal His loving presence to us!  We need to remember the truth that David learned from wonderful experience: "The Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the Lord WILL hear when I call to Him!"

Thank-you for this one Pastor Al.

Today I felt drawn back to this Psalm.  I felt a bit lonely. 
Chris is away tonight and I am missing my dear Helen and my little doggie.
 
This psalm is such a comfort psalm to me.  When  I can't sleep I recite the words of verse 8 to myself.

I think over the words of verse 5 and question myself.,  If I have offered sacrifices of righteousness I know in my heart that all will be well no matter what the circumstances are.

Somehow this Psalm puts life back into perspective ...It is a special favourite for me.

              "The Lord will hear when I call to Him" verse 3.

God bless.
Jenny.

Jenny - I want you to know that it's a real joy to me to hear that our Father's Words are a blessing to you!

I have used

QuoteI will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety!"

as my prayer from time to time. Another part of my own prayer is Lord please encampeth your angels round about as I sleep.

There is so much comfort to be found int he Psalms. I love them so much.[/b]

Oh may the Father send His Spirit in the night seasons.  May He move us to whisper "thank You" to Him from time to time as we reallize that we are kept and protected from the enemy at those times.

Quotebe angry, and do not sin," to "Meditate within your own heart on your bed and be still,"

I really needed that this morning. Yesterday something was said to me that  I repeated to someone else in anger and shouldn't have. Althought at the time I was venting I realized later that it was gossip too.