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Psalm 4

Psalm 4 is meant to be a song.  Since we have no record of the music we can read it as a poem.  It is possible that David wrote this song as his son, Absalom, was searching for him.  In any case it contains a good message that we can keep close.  Let us begin by reading the Psalm:

Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament.  Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.  In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome.  The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies.  The bloodthirsty and deceitful you,Lord, detest. But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies - make your way straight before me.Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice.  Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies. Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall.  Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them,that those who love your name may rejoice in you.  Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

This is a good reminder that God hears our prayers at all times.  Like any good Father, God is attuned to our cries for help.  And like a child, we cannot always see our Father's plans.  By faith, we can know that He loves us and will take appropriate action.  There will be times when we do not understand (or agree with) His action but we must learn that His will, and His way, is best.  God will bless the righteous and punish evil.  In that fact we can rejoice.

Psalm 3

King David wrote the third Psalm as he was fleeing from his own son, Absalom.  (King David's family was a mess, read more in 2 Samuel 13.)  Let us begin by reading the passage...

"Lord, how many are my foes!  How many rise up against me!  Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”  But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.  I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.  I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.  I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.  Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God!  Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.  From the Lord comes deliverance.May your blessing be on your people."

While king David had enemy nations to deal with, he also had members of his family trying to kill him.  His frustration is apparent in the first three statements of the psalm.  Many thousands were after David.  In spite of his predicament, David maintains his faith in God.  God is faithful and David has experienced His unqualified favor many times.  This is a good lesson for us:  God is our sustainer too. 

While our situations differ from David's, our relationship with God is the same.  If David can trust God to deliver him from enemies and family alike, I can trust God to deliver me from my problems.  Our deliverance comes from God's faithfulness.  May God's blessings be on you this week!  Amen.