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Psalm 4
When His life was threatened he turned to God. When he sinned he turned to God. When He failed he turned to God. When He was confused he turned to God. Here David is falsely accused and his reputation is in jeopardy – he turns to God!
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“God of my righteousness (V.s.1), deserves notice, since it is not used in any other part of Scripture. It means, Thou art the author, the witness, the maintainer, the judge, and the rewarder of my righteousness; to thee I appeal from the calumnies and harsh judgments of men. Herein is wisdom, let us imitate it and always take our suit, not to the petty courts of human opinion, but into the superior court, the King’s Bench of heaven” - Spurgeon
In the NT the Apostle Paul knew about great sufferings even as David did before him.
2 Cor 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Paul also had a capacity to turn to God in his distress and he became as great in the NT era as David was in the old.
There is a timeless principle at work here in this psalm that is greater than a filmy feud between a father and son.
*Distresses of all kinds come to every life (especially the godly) the key to victorious living that pleases God is not to escape trial but to turn to God who is the true mercy giver and holds the power to grant relief in our stress.
2)David instructs his enemies. (V.s.2-5)
“2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah 3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah 5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.”
The way David instructs his enemies in this passage is one of the signs that this distress may have occurred during his unexpected flight from Absalom. These may well have been instructions David wished to give to his disobedient son (however he never got the chance). They definitely offer good advice to us today.
1)Key points in David’s rebuke of his enemies.
A)“turn my glory into shame” (V.s 2)
- His son who turned the hearts of the people against him turned David’s glory to shame.
*There was no need for this – if Absalom would have simply been patient and heeded his fathers advice he would have been the heir to the throne. Instead he turned to slander and rebellion in an attempt to bring his own father down.
The result was: Family disunity, a lost throne, disillusioned innocent people caught in the struggle of choosing sides and even death.
There are still slandering lips, which speak against God’s anointed servants in our day.
·It may come from our actual family when friends and relatives become jealous of the blessing of the Lord in our lives. The result is unfortunately often a family feud which can never be won.
-if only family members would heed the advice that David may have well offered his own son here much pain could be avoided.
·It may come from our spiritual family (the church).
Many churches have been split as innocent people are caught in the turmoil of being forced to choose sides.
-The glory God once present in the church and the leadership is often turned to shame
<
“God of my righteousness (V.s.1), deserves notice, since it is not used in any other part of Scripture. It means, Thou art the author, the witness, the maintainer, the judge, and the rewarder of my righteousness; to thee I appeal from the calumnies and harsh judgments of men. Herein is wisdom, let us imitate it and always take our suit, not to the petty courts of human opinion, but into the superior court, the King’s Bench of heaven” - Spurgeon
In the NT the Apostle Paul knew about great sufferings even as David did before him.
2 Cor 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Paul also had a capacity to turn to God in his distress and he became as great in the NT era as David was in the old.
There is a timeless principle at work here in this psalm that is greater than a filmy feud between a father and son.
*Distresses of all kinds come to every life (especially the godly) the key to victorious living that pleases God is not to escape trial but to turn to God who is the true mercy giver and holds the power to grant relief in our stress.
2)David instructs his enemies. (V.s.2-5)
“2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah 3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah 5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.”
The way David instructs his enemies in this passage is one of the signs that this distress may have occurred during his unexpected flight from Absalom. These may well have been instructions David wished to give to his disobedient son (however he never got the chance). They definitely offer good advice to us today.
1)Key points in David’s rebuke of his enemies.
A)“turn my glory into shame” (V.s 2)
- His son who turned the hearts of the people against him turned David’s glory to shame.
*There was no need for this – if Absalom would have simply been patient and heeded his fathers advice he would have been the heir to the throne. Instead he turned to slander and rebellion in an attempt to bring his own father down.
The result was: Family disunity, a lost throne, disillusioned innocent people caught in the struggle of choosing sides and even death.
There are still slandering lips, which speak against God’s anointed servants in our day.
·It may come from our actual family when friends and relatives become jealous of the blessing of the Lord in our lives. The result is unfortunately often a family feud which can never be won.
-if only family members would heed the advice that David may have well offered his own son here much pain could be avoided.
·It may come from our spiritual family (the church).
Many churches have been split as innocent people are caught in the turmoil of being forced to choose sides.
-The glory God once present in the church and the leadership is often turned to shame
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