It Begins and Ends With Talking To The Lord
Daily Old Testament Reading: Psalm 4, 12-13
Daily Focus Passage: Psalm 4
David penned Psalm 3 during the distress of the rebellion led by his son Absalom. Psalm 4 continues the distress of David and provides insight into understanding how a believer deals with difficult moments in life. David modeled the importance of bracketing everything by speaking to the Lord. He demonstrates the difference of dealing with issues based on your status as a believer or unbeliever. David charges people to repent, declaring that all joy comes from the Lord alone.
EVERYTHING BEGINS AND ENDS WITH SPEAKING TO THE LORD
David opened Psalm 4 with a petition to the Lord. He requests that the Lord hear him and respond to his inquiry. David seeks the comfort that comes from the Lord alone in this request. He understands that the strength and peace needed to overcome his hurt comes only from the Lord and is not developed by humanity. Thus, David concluded the Psalm in praise because of this understanding. He trusted in the Lord’s provision and care for his own and began to praise, trusting in the faithfulness of the Lord. David demonstrates how we must begin and end with the Lord. We must seek him for comfort and praise him for his faithfulness.
BELIEVERS HOLD A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN UNBELIEVERS
David called out to the individuals the world held in high esteem to gain proper perspective. He declared that they may live in high esteem now, but without the Lord, their future is bleak. He told them to enjoy life now because this was as good as it would get for them. At the same time, David understands his plight. He endures his current struggle and holds fast to the promise that the best is yet to come because of the Lord. The difference between David and the people of high esteem is hope. David has certain hope for the future because of the Lord. Likewise, believers today hold a different perspective than unbelievers today because of the hope in a relationship with the Lord.
THERE MUST BE A CALL TO PEOPLE TO REPENT
David calls the people to repent because the Lord is the true Judge. The people would not face the judgment of David, but instead, their actions would receive the justice that comes from the Lord. David ultimately calls them to evaluate their life and conclude concerning their status with the Lord. David challenges them to stop putting their hope in things and people of this world and to turn to the Lord wholeheartedly. The same call exists today. We must be people of repentance who call people to repent. We must desire that people find their purpose and place in the Lord, not the world.
ALL JOY MUST BE FOUND IN THE LORD
David concludes Psalm 4 with a declaration of finding joy in the Lord alone. David declares that his joy exists through hardship because of his relationship with the Lord. Thus, he places the Lord as the center and source of his joy. At the same time, David knows that true joy comes from the Lord because the Lord provides a complete, eternal joy that does not ebb and flow with the dynamics of this world. This experienced joy compels David to share this experience of joy with everyone. He wants everyone to find the joy he has in the Lord.
