Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 4:1 and following. Indeed, in Psalm 3:1-9 Jehovah was the protection of the faithful; in Ps. 4 he is his portion: The pious man possesses the assurance that God has chosen him; literally: introduced into his favor). But he is still in the middle of a world where vanity and lies reign and he can only suffer there. “Who will make me see happiness?” is the question often asked in such a world. We will not find this good around us, nor more in ourselves! The only true good is that which God produces. He shows us the perfect expression of this in the life of His Son, the “pious man” par excellence, the only one whose “He does all things well” could be said (Mark 7:31-37).
For in these words is shown the faith of David who, although brought to the greatest distress, and even almost consumed by a long series of calamities, did not sink under his pain; nor was he heartbroken to be prevented from surrendering to God his liberator. Through his prayer, he testified that when he was totally deprived of any earthly help, he still had hope in God. Moreover, he calls him ‘the God of his righteousness’, which amounts to the same as if he had called him the defender of his right; and he appeals to God, because all men everywhere have condemned him, and his innocence has been sustained by the slanderous relations of his enemies and the perverse judgments of ordinary people. And this cruel and unjust treatment that David encountered must be carefully marked: For if nothing is more painful for us than to be wrongly condemned and to endure, at the same time, unjustified violence and slander; however, to be misled about doing well is an affliction that strikes the saints daily. And it is up to them to practice under him to the point of turning away from all the seductions of the world and depending entirely on God alone.
That is why ‘righteousness’, therefore, is here to be understood of a good cause, of which David makes God the witness, while he complains of the malicious and unlawful conduct of men towards him; and by his example, he teaches us that if at some point our righteousness is not seen and recognized by the world, we must not be discouraged by this, since we have one in heaven to defend our cause. Even pagans said that there was no better stage for virtue than a man’s conscience. But it is a consolation that goes far beyond that, to know when men wrongly boast of us, that we stand in the eyes of God and angels. Paul, we know, was endowed with the courage that came from this source, (1 Cor 4:5), for when many perverse reports spread about him among the Corinthians, he appealed to judgment — the seat of God. Isaiah too, with the same trust, (Isaiah 50:6-7) despises all the slander by which his enemies have slandered him.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Answered in the midst of hostility:
· Imploring Mercy
Dt 21:8 Forgive, O Lord! to your people of Israel, whom you have redeemed; do not impute innocent blood to your people of Israel, and this blood shall not be imputed to them. Ps 27:7 Eternal! listen to my voice, I invoke you: Have mercy on me and answer me! Ps 119:77 May your compassions come upon me, that I may live! For your law makes my delights. Lk 18:13 The publican, standing at a distance, did not even dare to roll his eyes; but he beat his chest, saying, O God, be appeased towards me, who is a sinner.
· Spiritual progress, life in abundance
2 Sam 22:37 You widen the path under my footsteps, and my feet do not waver. 1 Ch 4:10 Jaebets invoked the God of Israel, saying, “If you bless me and extend my limits, if your hand is with me, and if you preserve me from misfortune, so that I am not in suffering!… And God granted what he had asked. Esa 54.2 Expand the space of your tent; Let’s deploy the covers of your demeure: Do not hold back! Lengthen your ropes, And strengthen your stakes! John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I have come that the sheep may have life, and that they may be in abundance. Eph 3:17:19 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that being rooted and founded in love, 19 and knowing the love of Christ, which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled to the fullness of God.
· Meditation, call to the
Jos 1:8 Let this book of the law not move away from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, to act faithfully according to all that is written in it; for it is then that you will be successful in your endeavors, it is then that you will succeed. Ps 4:5 Therefore the wicked do not resist the day of judgment, nor do sinners in the assembly of the righteous; Ps 19:15 Receive favorably the words of my mouth and the feelings of my heart, O Lord, my rock and my liberator! 1 Tim 4:15 Take care of these things, give yourself entirely to them, so that your progress may be obvious to all.
· Spiritual joy, the particular causes of the
-The dedication of the house of God Ezr 6:22 They celebrated with joy for seven days the feast of unleavened bread, for Jehovah had rejoiced them by arranging the king of Assyria to support them in the work of the house of God, of the God of Israel.
-The return of captivity Ps 126:2 Then our mouth was filled with cries of joy, and our tongue with songs of joy; Then it was said among the nations: The Lord has done great things for them!
-The blessings of a spiritual life Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice in the Lord, My soul will be delighted with joy in my God; For he clothed me with the garments of salvation, He covered me with the mantle of deliverance, As the bridegroom adorns himself with a diadem, As the bride adorns herself with her jewels.
-The delights of God’s Word Jr 15:16 I have collected your words, and I have devoured them; Your words have made the joy and joy of my heart; For your name is invoked upon me, Jehovah, God of hosts!
-The times of spiritual refreshment Acts 8:5, 6, 8 Philip, having descended into the city of Samaria, preached Christ there. 6 The whole crowds were attentive to what Philip said, when they learned and saw the miracles he was doing. 8 And there was great joy in this city.
-The love of Christ 1 Pet 1:8 which you love without having seen it, in whom you believe without seeing it yet, rejoicing you with an ineffable and glorious joy,
From all the above, we note that God is the source of all good, but also of all true joy, “You have put joy in my heart,” says the psalmist. This joy does not depend on the abundance of material goods, as the end of the verse proves (Hab 3:16-19). The same chapter of the Philippians that exhorts us to rejoice always in the Lord reminds us that a believer can be happy in deprivation as well as in abundance (Phil 4:4-14). Divine joy can fill the soul, even in the midst of distress. Circumstances do not affect it, precisely because it has its source in the One who does not change (Heb 13:7-9). Because this meditation accompanies the previous one. It is an evening prayer of the same pious man: He obviously went through a trying day (as every day was more or less for Jesus), but he also found support and refreshment. The pious man, presented here, can lie down and fall asleep; but he exhorts others to lie down, and then there, on their bed, to meditate in their hearts, and to probe their minds. He knows his own right to rest peacefully in God; for “God gives sleep to his beloved.” This is what the Lord Jesus realized, when the winds and waves tossed the boat on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4). Ps. 4 differs, in this respect, from Ps. 3: like others we will meet later, it is not only the expression of trust in God, but it also asks for justice against the sons of men who defame all the glory that belongs to the people of the Lord and especially to his King; but God has chosen the godly man, and the light of the face of Jehovah is his resource. Thus, Ps. 3:4 and Ps. 4:1 both mention the grace of Jehovah as being known by experience. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow ” the faithful surrounded by enemies take refuge in the Lord.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.