Fiery Darts and Inner Peace (Psalm 4) ~ 20230806 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org
08/06 Psalm 4; Fiery Darts and Inner Peace; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20230806_psalm-4.mp3
Have you ever become aware that people are talking about you, but not in a good way? Have you ever been slandered? Your reputation dragged through the mud? Rumors spreading, lies circulating, comments, insinuation, you get those looks? You just know (or at least you think you know) what people are saying about you? When you try to go to sleep, all those voices start playing back in your head, the what-if’s are popping up like that old whack-a-mole game, and you start rehearsing scenarios and what you want to say in rebuttal to set the record straight? If you’ve ever been there, then Psalm 4 is for you.
We looked at Psalm 3, ‘A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.’ He was literally fleeing for his life, in very real physical danger. Psalm 4 only tells us that it is ‘To the choirmaster with stringed instruments’ and that it is ‘a Psalm of David’. Although it doesn’t give us the occasion, it is possible that this Psalm was also written in the context of Absalom’s overthrow, but from the aspect of David’s inner battle with the slander and lies. We know that Absalom, out of bitterness and resentment, positioned himself to intercept those who came to seek justice from the king.
2 Samuel 15:1 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
This went on for about four years.
12 Samuel 15:12 ...And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing. 13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.”
We also know that during David’s flight from Jerusalem, he was berated verbally and publicly by Shimei of the house of Saul
2 Samuel 16:7 And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8 The LORD has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”
David knew what it felt like to be slandered, to have his character maligned both secretly and publicly, to have lies and half-truths told about him, to have those who once supported him turned against him. And Psalm 4 gives us help when we find ourselves in similar circumstances.
~Pray~
Psalm 3 has become known as a morning Psalm, because it says:
Psalm 3:5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
Psalm 4 is known as an evening Psalm, because it concludes:
Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Isn’t it in the evening, when it is quiet, when you have time to reflect, to turn over the events of the day, that things begin to get under your skin?
The Character of God
But Psalm 4 begins with the character of God. That is a great place to begin, regardless of your circumstances!
Psalm 4:1 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!
David is in turmoil, so he turns to the Lord. He cries out to God for an answer. He addresses God as ‘O God of my righteousness’. God’s character is righteous, and he is the one who upholds righteousness and justice. God is the one who comes to the defense of those who are treated unjustly.
When he says ‘O God of my righteousness’, he is not claiming sinlessness. He acknowledges in Psalm 143
Psalm 143 (A Psalm of David.) 1 Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! 2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.
He says in Psalm 32
Psalm 32 (A Maskil of David.) 1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
David understand that no one is without sin. He understands that God is a forgiving God, and that somehow (he probably doesn’t fully understand exactly how) God can cover our sins and choose not to count them against us. When David addresses God as ‘O God of my righteousness’ he is acknowledging that God must be the source and sustainer, as well as defender, of his righteousness. He looks to the God of righteousness when he is experiencing injustice because God has entered in to a covenant relationship with him, has chosen him, has made promises to him.
He calls on God because God has showed him steadfast love in the past. David has a history with God, and God has always proven faithful. When everything seemed to be closing in on me, you broadened my perspective; you made room for me. ‘You have given me relief when I was in distress.’
So he calls on God to help in his present trouble; ‘Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!’ God is righteous, God is faithful, and God is gracious.
Addressing His Enemies
He begins with God, the character of God, seeking God’s help, before turning his attention to his enemies.
Psalm 4:2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? — Selah
This sounds like he is talking to his enemies, but that is unlikely for several reasons. Enemies, especially slanderers are not typically good listeners, so he would probably be wasting his breath. And this Psalm is ‘To the choirmaster with stringed instruments’. It was meant as a song, to be sung by God’s people in worship, to remind ourselves and encourage one another with the truth. And we saw this is an evening Psalm, when he is trying to go to sleep. So this is more likely an expression of his own inner conversation, not really expecting that his enemies would ever listen.
He addresses his adversaries as ‘O men’ in contrast to ‘O God of my righteousness.’ Right out of the gate, he acknowledges the vast difference between those who are against him and the one who is for him. He is God, and they are mere men.
How Long?
He asks a series of questions; ‘How long?’ How long will my honor be turned into shame?
I have been dishonored, I have been subjected to shame. But deeper, the very thing that is honorable, my enemies hold up against me as shame.
How long will you love empty worthless words! Isn’t this an apt description of our culture? Words are weighty when they carry a freightload of truth. Empty words blow away like chaff and eventually fall to the ground.
How long will you seek after lies? Wouldn’t it make more sense to pursue truth? But slanderers trade in lies, so they spend their time digging in the dirt.
Our Lord understands, because he experienced all of this. His own integrity was used against him. The Pharisees sought false witness against him. The charges brought against him didn’t hold up in court. It was only by their volume and persistence that they got their way.
Simply asking the question ‘how long’ implies an answer. Not forever! Even if they never learn, never come to their senses, there will be a day. There will be an end. Slanderers will not be allowed to slander forever.
Selah.
Psalm 4:3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.
There is something his adversaries need to know. They ought to know that YHWH is on the side of the godly. He is the one who chose them, who set them apart. He is the one who entered into a covenant relationship with them and committed himself to be faithful to his people. So know, that when you attack the LORD’s chosen, that the LORD will respond to the prayers of his people. He promised us that he would.
Be Angry and Do Not Sin
Psalm 4:4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. — Selah
It is unclear if this is also addressed to his adversaries; if so, he is saying, that although they are angry with him, the ought not speak or act out in anger.
It may be that this is addressed to his sympathizers. When David was being slandered by Shimei,
2 Samuel 16:9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.”
As tempting as this may have been, David wisely distances himself from anger and seeking his own vengeance. Instead he responds:
2 Samuel 16:12 It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.”
Paul uses this verse to exhort the church:
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
Regardless of our differences (and they are many), we are connected. There are real wrongs to get angry about, and failure to get justly angry is indicative of our own emotional numbness and brokenness. But James reminds us:
James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Be slow to anger. Be angry, but in your anger, do not sin. As Paul says in Romans 12
Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
Selah
Sin and Trust
This pause to reflect can have a constructive outcome.
Psalm 4:5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.
The one who is rightly angry, but pauses to reflect, will be reminded that my own heart is wicked and stirs up the just wrath of a holy God. I am in need of God’s anger to be turned away. I can be thankful for a God who is slow to anger. Sacrifices offered in faith in a God who delights to be gracious to sinners points us to the ultimate sacrifice of YHWH, who took our sin upon him and sacrificed himself in our place.
It is by faith in the finished work of Jesus that we can extinguish the fiery arrows from our slanderous foe (Eph.6:16).
Pessimism vs. Presence
The poison of the pessimist enters in;
Psalm 4:6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? ...
This is the ambiguous ‘many’ from Psalm 3. Many say there is no hope, there is no help, there is no good. There is plenty to be angry about. Where is the good?
But the Psalmist keeps his eyes on the Lord.
Psalm 4:6 ...Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”
This is an echo of the blessing Aaron was to speak over God’s people;
Numbers 6:24 The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Who will show us some good? The Lord is the source of all good. Blessing comes from him; it is his grace, his face, his presence that brings light and life and blessing. Who will show us any good? You!
Psalm 4:7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
The greatest pleasures this world offers pale in comparison with the blessing of God’s presence, his face, the joy of relationship with him. God is the source of all true good, true joy. O taste and see that the LORD is good! (Ps.34:8).
It is his presence, even in the midst of adversity, that brings peace.
Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
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2023.08.06 Sermon Notes
Psalm 4; Fiery Darts and Inner Peace
The character of God: righteous, faithful, and gracious
Psalm 4:1
God is the source and sustainer of righteousness
Psalm 143:1-2; 32:1-2
How long?
Matthew 26:59, 65, 27:13, 18, 22-25
YHWH is on the side of the godly
Psalm 4:3
Be angry and do not sin
Ephesians 4:25-27; James 1:19-20; Romans 12:17-19
My sin requires a sacrifice; to be received by faith
Hebrews 10:12; Romans 3:25-26
YHWH is the source of all good
Psalm 4:6-7; Numbers 6:24-27; Psalm 34:8
His presence brings peace
Psalm 4:8; Numbers 6:26; Romans 5:1
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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org