Rejoicing in God’s protection and peace
Psalm 4:1-2, “1
Answer me when I call,
O God who declares me innocent.
Take away my distress.
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2
How long will you people ruin my reputation?
How long will you make these groundless accusations?”
Psalm 28
8
The LORD protects his people
and gives victory to his anointed king.
Psalm 17
6
I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.
Psalm 18
6
But in my distress I cried out to the LORD;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry reached his ears.
Psalm 18:18-19, “18
They attacked me at a moment when I was weakest,
but the LORD upheld me.
19
He led me to a place of safety;
he rescued me because he delights in me.
Psalm 25
16
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
Psalm 31
6
I hate those who worship worthless idols.
I trust in the LORD.
Psalm 31
18
May their lying lips be silenced--
those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.
Psalm 69
8
Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me;
they treat me like a stranger.
9
Passion for your house burns within me,
so those who insult you are also insulting me.
10
When I weep and fast before the LORD,
they scoff at me.
Psalm 69
19
You know the insults I endure--
the humiliation and disgrace.
You have seen all my enemies
and know what they have said.
20
Their insults have broken my heart,
and I am in despair.
If only one person would show some pity;
if only one would turn and comfort me.
Psalm 4 is a Psalm of rejoicing in God’s protection and peace. We can place our confidence in God because He will listen when we call upon Him. This psalm may have been written as David was asking his enemies to reconsider their support of Absalom. Others see this psalm as a prayer for relief from a calamity such as a drought (4:7). It was probably written shortly after Psalm 3.
We can trust and rejoice in God’s protection and peace through Yeshua (Christ) because He is our rock and our fortress an ever present reality when our lives seem to be shattered and torn asunder. When we feel like everyone in our lives is falling apart instead of turning to our friends, let us turn to the Lord for strength and courage. When we feel most alone, let us turn to the Lord, for He will give us the what our heart most longs for, comfort, and joy.
When we feel like the kitchen sink is being thrown at our door and every thing we do is wrong, the Lord is still our God, and unto Him do we live for, not for man, but for God as we present our lives to the Messiah, trusting only in God’s protection and peace in the midst of the storms and affairs of life. Let us walk and rejoice in God’s protection and peace through Christ. While people may say all sorts of nasty things about us, what matters most is to remind ourselves that it is not what they think that matters the most anyway, only what God thinks.
Psalm 4:3-4, “3
You can be sure of this:
The LORD has set apart the godly for himself.
The LORD will answer when I call to him.
4
Don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you.”
Interlude
Think about it overnight and remain silent.
Psalm 17
6
I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.
Psalm 50
5
"Bring my faithful people to me--
those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices."
Psalm 135
4
For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel for his own special treasure.
Psalm 33
8
Let everyone in the world fear the LORD,
and let everyone stand in awe of him.
Psalm 77
6
when my nights were filled with joyful songs.
I search my soul and think about the difference now.
Ephesians 4
26And "don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you."[1] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,
The godly are those who are faithful and devoted to God. David knew that God would hear him when he called and would answer him. We, too can be confident that God listens to our prayers and answers when we call on him. Sometimes we think that God will not hear us because we have fall short of his high standards for holy living. But if we have trusted Christ for salvation, God has forgiven us, and he will listen to us. When you feel as though your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, remember that as a believer you have been set apart by God and that he loves you. He hears and answers, although his answers may not be what you expect. Look at your problems in the light of God’s power instead of looking at God in the shadow of your problems.
Psalm 4:5-6, “5
Offer proper sacrifices,
and trust in the LORD.
6
Many people say, "Who will show us better times?"
Let the smile of your face shine on us, LORD.
Psalm 37
3
Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Psalm 37
5
Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you.
Psalm 50
14
What I want instead is your true thanks to God;
I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High.
Psalm 51
19
Then you will be pleased with worthy sacrifices
and with our whole burnt offerings;
and bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
Numbers 6
26
May the LORD show you his favor
and give you his peace.’
Job 7
7O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again experience pleasure.
Job 9
25"My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away, filled with tragedy.
Psalm 80
3
Turn us again to yourself, O God.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved.
Psalm 80:7, “7
Turn us again to yourself, O God Almighty.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved.”
Psalm 80
19
Turn us again to yourself, O LORD God Almighty.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved.
Worship in David’s day included animal sacrifices by the priests in the Tabernacle. The animal’s blood covered the sins of the one who offered the animal. There were specific rules for offering sacrifices, but more important to God than ceremony was the offer’s attitude of submission and obedience (1 Samuel 15:22,23). Today a proper sacrifice one that is pleasing to God, is still the same. He wants our obedience and our praise before our gifts (Hebrews 13:15). Offer God your sacrifice of total obedience and heartfelt praise.
Psalm 4:7-8, “7
You have given me greater joy
than those who have abundant harvests of grain and wine.
8
I will lie down in peace and sleep,
for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.”
Psalm 97
11
Light shines on the godly,
and joy on those who do right.
12
May all who are godly be happy in the LORD
and praise his holy name!
Acts 14
17but he never left himself without a witness. There were always his reminders, such as sending you rain and good crops and giving you food and joyful hearts."
Leviticus 25
18"If you want to live securely in the land, keep my laws and obey my regulations.
Deuteronomy 12
10You will soon cross the Jordan River and live in the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession. When he gives you rest and security from all your enemies,
Job 11
19You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help.
Psalm 3
5
I lay down and slept.
I woke up in safety,
for the LORD was watching over me.
Psalm 16
9
No wonder my heart is filled with joy,
and my mouth[1] shouts his praises!
My body rests in safety.
Two kinds of joy are contrasted here-inward joy that comes from knowing and trusting God and happiness that comes as a result of pleasant circumstances. Inward joy is steady as long as we trust God; happiness is unpredictable. Inward joy defeats discouragement; happiness covers it up. Inward joy is lasting; happiness is temporary. May we all trust in God’s peace and protection trusting fully in what His Son has done for us to give us that peace. May the fountain of His love and joy overflow from within us so that we in turn can share of His passionate desires for us as His sheep and those who are not His sheep.
Pastor Jenkins
http://www.servantsofgrace.net
