March 27, 2023 -- Psalm 4:1-5 -- The Psalm Series: a Biblical answer to revenge
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.
Psalm 4:1-5 ESV
Psalm 1 has that calming assurance “the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (Psalm 1:6 ESV). For the rest of the Book of Psalms, there will be many stanzas of lament, men crying out to the Living God struggling against circumstances which seem to negate this promise. Interestingly, it is the hard circumstances of our lives, the pains and frustrations that drive us to prayer and show to us the depths of the Father’s knowledge of our ways and His attentiveness to our needs. It is proven to us once again “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17 ESV). Thus, even our heaviest burdens are designed to bring to us the righteousness of Christ whereby the goodness of our Father will be most exquisitely known. The Spirit of God will keep you at the spout where the grace of God pours out and the Kingdom of God is brought to fruition there.
Fight the temptation to ponder or speak to your heart possibilities of revenge. Our wounds and pains may lead us to stoke an anger that gets hotter all the time. It is fueled by thoughts of how to pay back sevenfold the harms done. The Psalmist reminds himself, and all who recite this, to fight that temptation and instead offer right gifts:
looking to the God of our righteousness (not calling to the basest desires of flesh) verse 1a.
remembering His past mercies and help verse 1b
praying to God, where such communion with Him reminds us flesh and blood are not the enemy, but the Devil and his demonic hordes are stirring warfare among those who are stamped with the image of God verse 1c.
Dear Christian family, the example of Jesus Christ is one that must transform our ways of living. Even as He was crucified He did not curse those who nailed Him to the cross, or who’d called for His death. He called to His Father in heaven, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 ESV). As long as a man or woman draws breath there is the possibility he will repent and find forgiveness full and free in the powerful Name of Jesus.
Selah. Think about that. Ponder it in your heart. Ask the Spirit of God to help you live as a new creation in Jesus Christ.
Our Father in heaven, God of our righteousness, You are the One Who brings relief to His people. We confess how often we have considered ways to hurt or undermine the very people who have made our life hard or miserable rather than calling out to You as the One Who brings relief. Forgive our stubbornness. Thank You for the repetitiveness of the Psalms, and the Scriptures, which highlight our sins and thereby put into glorious contrast the excellencies of Your ways. Teach us again to look to You for our righteousness and healing. When the struggle is particularly long bring to mind all Your past loving-kindnesses, help and avenues of rescue, so that the spiritual fruit of patience has a chance to mature within us. Teach us the discipline of unceasing prayer so that those who seem to be our enemies now may be won to Jesus Christ and by the dynamic presence of Your Spirit join us as soldiers for the cross of Jesus Christ. Amen.
https://youtu.be/j-k32dEKrsk Nathan Pacheco “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
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