Psalm 4 1Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 4Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety
Today's Scripture Meaning The children of men proved, and the happiness of godly people. (1-5) God's favour is happiness. (6-8) Verses 1-5: Hear me for thy mercy-sake, is our best plea. He who will not ask such blessings as pardon, and justifying righteousness, and eternal life, must perish for the want of them. Alas! that so many should make so fearful a choice. The psalmist warns against sin. Keep up holy reverence of the glory and majesty of God. You have a great deal to say to your hearts, they may be spoken with, let it not be unsaid. Examine them by serious self-reflection; let your thoughts fasten upon that which is good, and keep close to it. Consider your ways, and before you turn to sleep at night, examine your consciences with respect to what you have done in the day; particularly what you have done amiss, that you may repent of it. when you awake in the night, meditate upon God, and the things that belong to your peace. Upon a sick-bed, particularly, we should consider our ways. Be still. when you have asked conscience a question, be serious, be silent, wait for an answer. Open not the mouth to excuse sin. All confidence must be pan answer. Open not the mouth to excuse sin. All confidence only: therefore, after commanding the sacrifices of righteousness, the psalmist says, Put your trust in the Lord. Verses 6-8: Wordly people inquire for good, not for the chief good; all they want is outward good, present good, partial good, good meat, good drink, a good trade, and a good estate; but what are all these worth? Any good will serve the turn of most men, but a gracious soul will not be put off so. Lord, let us have thy favour, and let us know that we have it, we desire no more; let us be satisfied of thy loving-kindness, and will be satisfied with it. Many inquire after happiness, but David had found it. When God puts grace in the heart, he puts gladness in the heart. Thus comforted, he pitied, but neither envied nor feared the most prosperous sinner. He commits all his affairs to God, and is prepared to welcome his holy will. But salvation is in Christ alone; where will those appear who despise him as their Mediator, and revile him in his disciples? May they stand in awe, and no longer sin against the only remedy.
Today's Scripture Application Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the Book of Psalms with Chapter 4. In our text today we see a theme of Rejoicing in God's protection and peace and how we can not only trust Him but can place our confidence and faith in Him. It reminds of an old story of how a man walked across Niagara Falls on a tightrope with a wheelbarrow. When he asked the crowd if they trusted him to walk back across they all cheered. When he asked for a volunteer to ride in the wheelbarrow no one did. No one placed their confidence in Him - yet in our text today David did just that, David rejoiced and placed his confidence in the Lord. How about you? Do you trust Him with your life? If so, do you Have confidence in Him or a true faith? Let us learn from our text today and this Psalm today to remember that we can trust Him and go beyond that trust with a confidence or true faith in the Lord.
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Sincerely, Dr. Dave Burnette Director, The United States Bible Society, Inc.