An Andy Capp cartoon shows the lead character walking home from a pub, arm in arm with a friend, singing, “Dear old pals.” As he enters his house, he calls out, “Yoo hoo, it’s me!” Then he collapses on the floor.
His wife walks over to him and covers him with a blanket. Andy says, “Thanks sweet heart.” His wife says, “Don’t mention it,” and she leaves him laying on the floor. Then she looks at the reader and says, “Never take your problems to bed with you.”
“Never take your problems to bed with you.” Far too many people look for peace of mind at the bottom of a bottle or somewhere else but they also take their problems to bed with them.
But David does not. Let’s meditate on Psalm 4 as David directs us to trust in his guardian…
THE GOD OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS – vs 1:
This stanza has three commands addressed to God:
1. “Answer me” when I call.
2. “Be gracious” to me.
3. “Hear” my prayer.
MEN WHO LOVE THE WORTHLESS – vss 2-3:
This stanza is addressed to David’s peers, “sons of men,” a typical designation for human beings. How do David’s peers treat him?
1. His honor is a reproach to them. Or, to word it another way, they do not appreciate his honor; it is shame to them.
2. They love what is worthless, what is empty (literally).
3. They also seek after lies or what is deceptive. They love what is false more than what is true.
In the third verse, David continues his talk to the “sons of men,” but he tells them about His God, His Lord.
1. The Lord Jehovah has set apart for himself the “godly.” These are those who have found righteousness in Him (vs 1).
2. Yes, the Lord Jehovah hears when David calls to Him (vs 1).
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AN EVANGELISTIC CALL TO HIS ENEMIES – vss 4-5:
This stanza illustrates David’s heart for his enemies. All the verbs in these two verses are plural verbs and here is what David calls on his enemies to do:
1. Tremble in the presence of God. This verb means to “be caught in restless motion.” We might think of someone who is agitated and can’t stand still or can’t sit still.
2. Do not sin. The word “sin” here literally means to “miss the mark.” It means to fail to meet expectations. God expects us to live right and we do not. That is sin. David calls on his enemies not to sin.
3. Meditate in your heart, on your bed. The verb translated “meditate” is actually the simple verb “to speak.” David is saying, “Speak to yourself in your own heart.”
4. Be still.
5. Offer sacrifices of righteousness. In other words, give to God what God requires, what is right. Our sacrifices are “righteousness” when they are “right” before God and they can only be “right” in the eyes of God when they are what God requires.
6. Finally, David says trust in the Lord.
THE LORD MAKES ME DWELL IN SAFETY – vss 6-8:
This final stanza has David speaking again of the good things provided by God. He speaks of “many” who ask the question: “Who will show us any good?” Where does “good” come from? If you want “good” in life, where do you seek it?
In order for these to know where good comes from, David directs a prayer to the Lord Jehovah: “Lift up the light of your countenance [literally, “face”] of Jehovah upon us, O Lord.” How can David be so sure that “good” comes from the Lord? He mentions three “good things” in verses 7-8:
1. “Gladness” – Jehovah put “gladness” in David’s heart, more than any gladness that could be had from grain and new wine that abound. David seeks gladness from his relationship with God, not from food or drink. This “new wine” is fresh juice straight from the grape. He is not talking about alcoholic wine but the same principle would hold true. He finds gladness from God, not from physical pleasures. What is “good”? It is “gladness” from the Lord.
2. “Peace” – David has peace and he can sleep in peace. Why? Because his righteousness comes from the Lord (vs 1). He can trust the Lord (vs 2). Gladness / joy come from the Lord (vs 7). All of that gives David peace so that he can sleep in peace.
3. “Safety” – David lives and walks in safety because he knows the Lord walks with Him. The Lord is his guardian.
Meditate on Psalm 4 and its message and find strength and support from the blessings of our heavenly Father.
Paul Holland
