Today’s passage: Psalm 4
Helpful thoughts:
- Many truths are packed into this Psalm:
- God supplies our righteousness.
- Relief can be had IN distress, not just in taking the distress away.
- Man can shame you with the very thing that is your honor (Christ!).
- Confidence in the face of rejection and shaming comes from knowing that God has chosen you and hears you.
- The world is looking for someone to do them good when God is the one who outshines them all. (Numbers 6:22-27)
- There is more joy to be had in knowing God than in prosperity.
- Placing your concerns in the Lord’s hands allows you to sleep.
- The word in verse 4 translated as “angry” in the ESV could also be translated as “tremble” (And it is in other translations like the NIV and NASB). The idea of the verse is to say to those who do not fear the Lord, “Tremble, and do not sin.” When God revealed Himself to Job, Job’s response was to put his hand over his mouth and be silent.
- A right sacrifice is one in keeping with obedience and reverence. (See 1 Samuel 15:22, and Micah 6:6-8)
- There are many problems presented in this Psalm. There is one source of solution.
Questions to consider:
- This Psalm was written for the choirmaster. Why is it so important that we sing doctrinally rich and edifying songs?
- What is the basis for accusations or hatred that is directed toward the faith of Christians? (Second half of verse 2)
- If going to church and serving, giving, singing, etc. feels rote (like going through the motions) what needs to change in our heart, our values, our conscience? What might be wrong with our “sacrifices” or our joy finder?