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Tuesday - Psalm 4

Continuing our look at the Psalms we turn to Psalm 4. At the end of Psalm 3 we have the word 'Selah' - which connects it to Psalm 4, because Selah means 'pause before going on.' Psalm 4 is an evening hymn as verse 8 makes plain.

Verses 1-2 contains a call to God and a challenge to men. David grounds his prayer on God's character of righteousness - verse 1 - God is the God of his righteousness - it is not David's own but a gift from God. He also grounds the prayer in God's saving actions in the past. On these two facts David asks God to show mercy and to hear his prayer. David then speaks of the sinful nature of man. These men seek after the things they love - falsehood, vain things and dishonouring the glory of the king and of God who had appointed him king over Israel. 'How long...' - speaks of the cry of David's heart - it is a question directed at those who have rebelled but also forms part of his prayer to God - because ultimately the timing of all things is in the hands of the sovereign Lord God.

Verse 3 - their rebellion against David, and against God, is doomed to failure because David is certain that God has heard his prayer and will answer his prayer. God has answered David's cry in showing him marvellous kindness, kindness he did not deserve nor earn - but is a gift of grace. In light of this David gives some wise counsel in verse 4 - 'stand in awe' - not of David but of the Lord God who has heard and answered the king's prayer. David calls them to reflect upon the nature of God - the result will be to stop them in their tracks and they will stand in awe - know whom before you stand! Knowing whom it is that you stand before - leads to the second piece of advice - sin not. Sin cannot stand in God's presence. As these men, as David and as we lie still in our beds - our consciences often reveal the sin of our lives. In the quiet hours of the night as our minds ruminate over our lives - past sins come to the fore and the grace of God is also brought to the fore - the knowledge of God's salvation also bears on our hearts. Hence David's advice for the troubled heart to seek God and to trust in Him. What wise counsel we are given here to us all and we would do well to heed them.

Verse 6 - David now reveals that some men grumble about their lot in life. They cannot see the goodness, the kindness, or the blessings of God. Their eyes are closed to such things and so their hearts grumble against the lot they have in life. How sad it is when men lie down to rest and their souls and minds are filled with complaints instead of thanks to almighty God. David has the answer for such grumblings - ask God to lift his countenance, his face, of righteousness upon them. One flash of the Lord God's grace, mercy, kindness = countenance would banish such darkness from the heart of a man. We need only put ourselves in the place of His light to receive His blessing. What difference would be made to our lives, to a night's sleep, if we took this piece of advice. David shows us in verse 7 the result of taking his advice in verse 6 - he will be content and glad because God has blessed him with a glad heart. Happy, blessed is the man whose gladness of heart does not depend on his material possessions, the abundance of things or the money in his wallet. David knows, and wants us to understand, that the joy of earthly things does not rise above the earth - but the things which God puts into the heart of a man bring joy for all eternity. Here is a challenge for us to bring our empty hearts to almighty God so that He might fill them with His blessings.

David can therefore finish this Psalm with a beautiful verse of assurance - verse 8. It is the Lord God alone that can give us rest and sleep in safety. Here is a Psalm that we should use as a means of prayer before we lie down to sleep. A Psalm full of wisdom and assurance that by trusting in Almighty God, in knowing who it is that is sovereign over all things and who alone is our Protector brings us great peace of heart and mind. With the words of this Psalm in our mind and heart we can close our eyes content that the One who watches over us, will guard and protect us and give us rest. Pray this Psalm before you sleep.

Amen.