Meditating on Verses: Psalm:4

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On October 31, 1517, Reformation Day, Martin Lutter posted 95 statements on the church door. By doing this, he made the world aware of what faith really consists of. He made church leaders and churchgoers LISTEN.

What I find fascinating about the Psalms is that today you can read them, and when you listen, you get a message. When you read them again in a few months, and listen to the words you get a totally different message.

For me, the gospel that is preached in the Old and New Testament comes together in Psalm 4.
The same gospel that was preached then is still preached today. The same song that was sung then is still sung today. The same call to listen and trust still exists today.

The theme of Psalm 4: God is our justice; LISTEN and offer Him sacrificial hands of justice out of gratitude, and He will also LISTEN.

Listen, child of God, listen and trust!

So often we tell our children that they don’t have ears because they don’t listen to us. The first time I read this Psalm I found myself guilty of also not having ears as I made the same mistakes time and time again. I found myself in trouble time and time again.

What I also find interesting is that in some Bibles, the numbering of this Psalm is different. It only has 8 verses.

My reading is from ESV – English Standard Version 2016 on my Bible app which I read recently again, in fact, precisely four weeks ago.
Although some might disagree with me I believe that this Psalm was written by David himself and was not just attributed to him.

Sweeter words for a song you cannot get.

Verse 1 tells us that David was again in trouble, hence his call to God.

This is no different for us. We find ourselves constantly in problem situations. This is so that we can, just like David, call on God.
From experience, David knows that God answers prayers and blesses people, and therefore we get a personal assurance that he trusts God for the future. He urges others not to resort to lesser resources.

It is also an urgent plea. While we are still speaking, God is already hearing and responding. The last line of the verse includes two requests: Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. David believes that if he can only get God's attention, everything will change. All we need to do is trust.

In verses 2 – 5 David now deals with his human troublemakers. He has faith in God and tries to get them to change their ways.

In verse 3, the true facts are named. You must know that the Lord works miracles for his faithful followers; the Lord hears when we cry out to Him.

God listens. Tremble, don't sin, is what verses 4 and 5 tell us. Think about it on your beds and be quiet. Bring the appropriate sacrifices and put your trust in the Lord. Listen, put your trust in the Lord.

In verses 6 - 9, God is addressed again. Let the light of your presence shine upon us, Lord. This is a request that Aaron's blessing (Numbers 6:24–26) be implemented.
David finds joy in his heart. We see the cause of this inner joy in verse 9: in peace, David can lie down and fall asleep because he trusts in the Lord.

Message and meaning

God provides prosperity and security, as He knows our circumstances. He wants us to keep an eye on him at all times. The salvation that God gave us through His son is to our honor, and we must lift the trophy. This is what David did.

The psalm invites us to think about the things we are upset about and find rest with God. So use the Psalm to bring the conflicts in your life before the Lord and ask for his "smile", as one can explain in verse 6: "Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!"

Think about what God wants to say to you with this Psalm.

• Where do these thoughts affect your life in practice?
• What does it ask of you?
• What does it promise you?
• What should you think or do with it?
• What is the essence of the message of this text for your day and life?

It will help you make sense of your own experiences in light of God's Word.

Decide how you will respond to it. Say it to the Lord in prayer. Write it in your journal. Lastly, enjoy His presence.
Let the message that God gives you accompany you throughout the day. Live it out.

Let the words of this short but powerful verse fill our hearts and be a song over our lips with each day.

Dear Heavenly Father,

It is with joy in my heart that I can bend my head today knowing that you will listen to my cries and all I need to do is to trust in you.

Today I place those who are in need, those who are suffering, those who are shedding tears, those who are scared, and those who are lonely before you.

I ask Father that you will lift up the light of your face upon them so that there can be joy and peace in this world.

Amen