Psalm 4:1-8

Rachel Workman: 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.

This wasn't a demand but a plea from a desperate man.

² How long will you people ruin my reputation?
    How long will you make groundless accusations?
    How long will you continue your lies? 

As long as we live and breath on this earth there will be conflict and trials. And David was no stranger to it.

³ You can be sure of this:
    The Lord set apart the godly for himself.
    The Lord will answer when I call to him.

⁴ Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
    Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude
⁵ Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
    and trust the Lord.

⁶ Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
    Let your face smile on us, Lord.
⁷ You have given me greater joy
    than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

I love verse 3. God sets apart the godly for himself. We are set aside for God for his purpose not our own. But do I really live that? I fail at some of the simplest things.

____________________________________________________________________________________

John Burnett:  4 Answer me when I call, O God ^[b]of my righteousness!
You have ^[c]relieved me in my distress;
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

² O sons of men, how long will my ^[d]honor become a reproach?
How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? ^[e]Selah.  A rhetorical question that points out that everything we strive for outside of seeking the Lord is worthless and is the target set before us by the father of lies.
³ But know that the Lord has ^[f]set apart the godly man for Himself;
The Lord hears when I call to Him.  The Lord has set us apart and calls us to be Holy.  He sees us as Holy when we are justified and sanctified by His Son’s blood.

^4 [g]Tremble, ^[h]and do not sin;
^[i]Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
⁵ Offer ^[j]the sacrifices of righteousness,
And trust in the Lord.

⁶ Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!
⁷ You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
⁸ In peace I will ^[k]both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.  We take for granted all that He does for us.  Thank you Lord for all that you have provided and help me to remember who provides.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Krista Cook:  I can hear Him saying the words of vs.2 today.  But we can rest knowing that He hears us.  We must strive to endure through the bad around us by keeping His word in our hearts and trusting in Him.  We can hold onto the peace that comes from above.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Mike Grimm:  Reading for Psalm 4

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

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 Godly are those who are faithful and devoted to God. David knew that God would hear him and answer him. We too can be confident that God listens to our prayers and answers when we call on Him. Sometimes we think that God will not hear us because we have fallen short of His high standards for holy living. But, if we have trusted Christ for our salvation, God has forgiven us and He will listen to us. Remember, that as a believer you have been set apart by God and that He loves you. He hears and answers, although His answers may not be what you expect. Look at your problems in the light of God’s power instead of looking at God in the shadow of your problems.

² How long will you people ruin my reputation?
    How long will you make groundless accusations?
    How long will you continue your lies? Interlude

³ You can be sure of this:
    The Lord set apart the godly for himself.
    The Lord will answer when I call to him.

⁴ Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
    Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude
⁵ Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
    and trust the Lord.

Today a “right sacrifice”, one that is pleasing to God, is still the same. He want’s our obedience and our praise before our gifts. Offer God your sacrifice of total obedience and heartfelt praise.

⁶ Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
    Let your face smile on us, Lord.
⁷ You have given me greater joy
    than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.

Two kinds of joy are contrasted here I inward joy that comes from knowing and trusting God and happiness that comes as a result of pleasant circumstances. Inward joy is steady as long as we trust God; happiness is unpredictable. Inward joy defeats discouragement; happiness covers it up. Inward joy is lasting; happiness is temporary.

⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.