Psalm Chapter 4

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.

Psalm 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

David calls upon God's abundant mercy. God is always ready to help a sincere cry of our hearts for any need or distress. He loves to show mercy to a heart that genuinely seeks him.

Psalm 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

This is a sad part of this Psalm. Men turn God's glory into shame. They seek after vanity and leasing. Leasing is deceit and lying. It is not a good testimony for those that claim to believe in Jesus Christ to be partaker of lying or deceit. Let us make truth our banner. Mending friendships rather than separating friendships by repeating tales and gossip is a wonderful way to live and enjoy happiness. A whisperer separates chief friends but a faithful person conceals the matter.

Vanity is going after things with no purpose or meaning. It is good for nothing. Wasting time. Hanging around those that murmur and complain. Not bringing forth good fruit. Instead we need to yield ourselves to producing good fruit and speaking that which edifies.

Let our speech be always with grace seasoned with salt, giving answers that bring salvation and life. Avoid evil speaking and backbiting. It is a spirit of contention that we must avoid in order to spend time here in fruitfulness rather than waste.

Psalm 4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

A godly person seeks after God. He or she seeks to live in a manner that is after the character of God. Evil speaking, complaining and murmuring is not after God. Going after the things of the flesh, selfishness and being devoid of the word, is ungodly.

God sets those who live godly apart for himself. They are special to him. What a beautiful thought it is to be set aside by God to belong to God and be part of His chosen people. It is freely offered to all but not many choose this good way.

Psalm 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Standing in awe. Standing in reverence and fear toward God is standing in awe. Not taking His word or his presence lightly is another thought here. Communing with our own hearts and making sure that we are in a right relationship with God is good. Seeking his face daily with thanksgiving and desire also is good. All these are great choices to make for sure.

Psalm 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

By the power of the Holy Spirit we can live this good way. Not necessarily what we may think is righteousness but the righteousness that is by the spirit that God gives to those who receive Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has a pure righteousness that is substituted for our own self-made righteousness which is not really righteous. Christ covers us with His righteousness.

That is why we should labor to do works that are fruitful and further the gospel rather than be given over to evil speaking and complaining which hinder the gospel. If we truly trusted God as we ought, we would not have to complain and murmur.

Psalm 4: 6 There be many that say, Who will show us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

The peace of God gives us a sense of safety and thanksgiving. It is health to our bones, calmness to our souls. Nothing in this life can compare to it. The joy of the Lord brings more gladness than a fruitful harvest in the physical realm. In fact winning a big lottery and the joy it may bring (which is temporary), cannot begin to compare to the joy of the Lord. If you think otherwise, you have not experienced the joy of salvation and gladness of heart. It is yours for the asking. It is ours for the seeking.

There are some churches who enjoy loud worship and praise both with singing and shouting praises unto God. It is perfectly scriptural. Remember the words Jesus said to those who tried to silence the ones praising Him when He entered Jerusalem. There are those that perfer to worship in quietness. That is okay do. We need to be for real not judge each other on whether we worship quietly or with loud praise and much emotion. Humans have different traits and it is not wrong to worship with emotion and loudness. Jesus said that the rocks might cry out if we keep silent. In all worship though, God sees the sincere heart within us. He knows if we are "for real" or not. DC

Luke 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Psalms 5
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