Read Psalm 4

 

            All too often don’t you feel like no one listens?  No one, not even God?  You stretch out your hands and yell, “Can’t you hear me Lord?” as you are left out on the porch in the rain with nowhere to go.  But you do have a God who hears you, who listens to you, who answers you with more than you can ever imagine.

 

            David was just betrayed and run out of town and out of his kingship, disgraced by his beloved son.  So many people in Absalom’s camp were after his scalp.  It is a certain “doomsday” for King David, or so it looks.  But David has a calmness and a confidence that God has given him as witness to you today that he gives you the same as he did his beloved David as reflected in Psalm 4.

 

            The Psalms are a collection of hymns of praise, prayers of thanksgiving, pleas for God’s mercy, cries for God’s help, frustration with the surrounding world and mankind, for deliverance from the enemy – both worldly and spiritual, words of encouragement and confidence and support, from the heart and to the heart.  This summer we will examine the Psalm for each week as it pertains to us today.  That is a key to understanding the Psalms, as they apply to us today.  God’s word was not written just to show us the past, but in preserving his mighty works of the past we have the confidence, faith and trust as he continues to pour his mercies on us today and for all time into eternity with him.

 

 

            Psalm 4 is known as a Psalm of Victory.  Some propose David wrote this during or after his return to the throne following Absalom’s revolt.  Psalm 4 has been used from Old Testament times through today as an evening prayer in personal devotions and worship services alike.  It is a Psalm that we express our peace knowing that God has delivered us from our enemies.  It is the Psalm for some of our well known evening hymns including, “Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow,” “Now the Light has Gone Away,” and “Christ, Mighty Savior.” 

 

            “Answer me when I call to you, O Lord.”  We cry out to God in expectation that he will answer.  It’s not a passing knock on the door for casual conversation.  We cry out intensely.  We call to God in our despair and frustration.  We want him to hear us.  It is an urgent call.  It is like dialing *999 on your cell phone.  Hear me, and now.

 

            “My righteous God.”  We know that God alone is righteous.  All else in this world is fickle and has let us down.  It is like a young child who is ill who calls out only for his parent knowing mom or dad alone can make things well again.  Only God, our heavenly father can make things right.  We call on him trusting that he puts his righteousness, making everything right again, on us.  We know that in him alone we are healed, restored, and made right, even with him in all holiness that he gives to those who believe in him for that.

 

            Be merciful to me.  How many times have we seen and heard others cry out, “Lord, have mercy,” and Christ showed his mercy in many miracles and forgiving.  That is why we include that phrase in our prayers, “Lord, have mercy…Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.”  God promises, “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.”  [Isaiah 65:24]    We also cry out to God who gives relief in all distress and God who hears our prayers.

 

            Verse 2 is the frustration we have in this world.  It is the frustration God cries out over and over again in Scripture and to each one of us still today, “How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?”  How often do God’s people follow false teachings and bow down to false gods whether the golden calf, the pagan gods and goddesses of surrounding people, or simply relying on their own righteousness and good works?” 

 

            Jesus continued to challenge many who did not recognize him as he is, the Son of God.  How do you and I chase after and follow the delusions of our hearts, the earthly lusts and cravings we know are contrary to God’s will, commands, and love for each one?  How do we treat Jesus as we treat each other in thoughts, words and deeds?  It isn’t a pretty sight as we sinfully separate ourselves from God in this way.

 

            v. 3  But God has always set apart those faithful to him.  He set apart man at creation as the crowning part of that creation.  He put all things of this earth into man’s hands to take care of for him.  He set aside Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all of his descendants to you and me, as his people.  David knew that God had set him apart as ruler of God’s people, and that his throne would be preserved for all time in the Savior who would come.  God gives us David as an example how he will always guard and protect us, even to the 100^th lamb that is lost and will be saved when it cries out for God’s mercies. 

 

            Ultimately, God set his own son apart to be our brother, our Lord and Savior, so that we know how he set us and all believers apart as his dear children today and forever.  As God separated light from dark, good from evil, he separates his people from all that will bring them harm.

 

            v. 3  “The Lord will hear when I call to him.”  Such confidence we have in Micah’s words, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”  [7:7]  You and I have that confidence as we remember how Jesus has taught us to speak to God, “Our father in heaven…”

 

            v. 4  How often are we angered, frustrated, anxious about anything good or bad, impatient in our time?  God says to relax, do not sin in those times, but rest because he holds all things in his hands.  Remember Paul’s words, “All things work together for the good to those who love God.”  [Romans 8:28]  How easy it is to forget that all authority has been placed in Jesus’ hands.  [Matthew 28:16]  He is always here in his word to strengthen and sustain you.

 

            . 5  “Offer right sacrifices.”  We struggle with what a right sacrifice is.  God wants us to remember David’s words in Psalm 51, “the sacrifices of God are a broken heart,”  Repentance that is true sorrow for sins and the desire to do as God commands is the sacrifice God commands.  That sacrifice is surrender, giving up ourselves, our prideful and sinful selves, to live following his will, his desire, his perfect plan for us.  We are like that stallion in the pen as we need to have spirits broken so we can be useful to God and a joy to each other. 

 

            There is a question and answer section in verse 6 that is the question all in this world have today.  “Who can show us any good?”  The answer we hear so often in the benediction as God makes his face shine on you and shows his countenance, his approval of you.  God approves you as he makes you, not as you make yourself.  He makes you holy only through faith in the blood of Jesus.  He makes you one with him again by the price Jesus paid to buy you back to him again.  God loves you and wants no one else to have a part of you.  It is in your baptism that all sins are washed away and you are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness for all time. 

 

            That is the joy that God has given you.  It is greater than all things we can begin to imagine, let alone experience in this earth.  That joy is greater than the most bountiful harvest ever.  The love and joy you receive in Christ is beyond all understanding. 

 

            God’s love is his undying love in Jesus.  It is his immeasurable love in all he gives in this world and in forgiveness of sins and eternal life with him.  In his love he gives you the peace to lie down at night as you pray these words from the traditional evening prayer and Luther’s evening prayer:

 

            I pray, thee Lord, my soul to keep,

            Guard me Savior through the night,

            Wake me with the morning light,

            If I should die before I wake,

            I pray thee Lord, my soul to take.

 

And in Luther’s evening prayer,
            Graciously keep this night from all harm and danger.

All this is because God calls us to:

            Commend into his hands our body, soul and all things,

Trusting him to send his holy angels to guard so that the evil foe will have no power over you. 

            And this we ask for Jesus’ sake.    Amen.