Divine Patience/Divine Peace
Psalms 4
Distress
"Hear me, Oh Lord. Please listen! I need some help down here." Does that sound familiar. If so, you're pretty normal.
Distress is everywhere. It is common to man. Bad news on TV or the paper is nothing. Personal difficulty, personal pain overshadows all other distress.
It seems that everyone has distress or some sort and to some degree. There are always "those situations", "those problems", those setbacks or challenges. It happens to everybody, no matter how righteous you are or how much faith you have, problems still come.
And certainly, there is a large number, even of good and faithful believers, who only cry out to God when they are in distress. It's like, "I don't need you right now, Lord. I'm doing okay." But when trouble strikes, they're pounding on God's door furiously.
But on the other hand, there is no better place to go in distress than to God.
And if distress brings us closer to God, then bring on the distress. If that's what it takes to get our attention, then thank God for it.
America is in distress. Do you think God can solve America's problems? Yes! Of course, He can! But I don't believe He will. We are reaping what we have sown. God is preserving this land because of "ten righteous" - because of his remnant of faithful ones - but righteousness is slipping fast.
When Israel veered from God, they went into distress. Then when they cried out 'as a nation', God delivered them. Until we cry out 'as a nation', we will see no major deliverance. Until the righteous wake up and get in the battle on their knees, we're doomed.
Israel repented as a nation.
Nineveh repented as a city.
Had Sodom and Gomorrah repented, they would have been spared.
Unless there are some major changes in this country, we are in trouble.
What we have in America is a Babel in reverse. God scattered the people at the Tower of Babel because of their united wickedness. America is a melting of pot where every major race and culture has come side by side again and is again building an evil tower in rebellion against God.
But, in our distress, if we will call upon Him, as individuals or as a nation, He will deliver us.
Enlargement
He will make us 'equal to the task'. God enlarged David when He faced Goliath. He enlarged Israel when they faced large armies much more numerous than they. He still does it! In 1967, the Six Day War, God gave Israel victory over an enemy much greater than they were. And He does it for the individual believer. God will size you up to the task at hand.
"Greater is He that is in you…"
How long?
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
This is a familiar phrase throughout the Bible.
Ps 6:3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
Ps 13:1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Ps 13:2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Ps 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? …
Ps 74:10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? …
Ps 79:5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever?
Ps 80:4 O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
Ps 89:46 How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? …
Ps 90:13 Return, O LORD, how long? …
Ps94:3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
Ps 94:4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
Isa 6:11 Then said I, Lord, how long? …
Jer 12:4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein…
Hab 1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! …
Zec 1:12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah…
Re 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Man is constantly crying out, "How long, oh Lord?" But this time it is God who is asking, "How long, oh man"
"...how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing (falsehood)?"
How long will you continue in sin?
How long will you continue to doubt me?
How long will you put me to the test?
How long will you continue to embrace the world and its pleasures?
How long will you neglect true prayer?
How long will you flirt with spirituality but never really enter in?
People seek after false gods, because false gods offer quick solutions. False gods offer immediate satisfaction. But idolatry is like a drug - the pleasure is immediate, but when its over, you're worse off than when you started. And you always need more.
But God's pleasures are everlasting, even if they are longer in coming. Don't you know God can hold time still if he has to. He's never late. It's never too late with God.
The godly are His
3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
He has not, and will not abandon us. He hears us when we call. Remember, you belong to God, not to the world. So turn to Him instead.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Remember who God is. Stand in awe of Him. The word means to tremble before Him. He is the God of all the universe. He is the creator - the one who made you - the one who brought you in and the one who can take you out.
Do not be angry with God. Do not sin against Him or show Him disrespect. He may not operate on your time schedule or your priority list, but remember who's in charge here.
Selah is a musical notation. It means pause and meditate on this.
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
Be faithful! Keep doing what is right. Keep serving. Keep praying. Keep trusting. Your trust - your labor is not in vain. God is watching. He is keeping score. Just hang in there and wait on Him.
6. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Don't let the skeptics get to you. Just keep being faithful to God and He will show Himself eventually.
Mt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
2 Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2 Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
It's not always easy to stand firm, but stand firm we must.
7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
The result of trusting God will ultimately be joy - pleasure beyond our wildest imaginations. But there is also joy in the journey.
This whole psalm is about attitude. How is your attitude? Anybody can grumble their way through life. Put on a smile and praise God anyway. Sure, things will go wrong. Things will break down. Things will be a bother. But God is still on the throne, and ultimately, He will triumph and His will will be done.
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Trusting brings peace.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
No matter what goes on around you, trust God. What's going on within you is more important.
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.