December 9
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the Lord will hear when I call to Him. Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. There are many who say, ‘Who will show us any good?’ Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety,” Psalm 4:1-8.
This psalm of David has been referred to as being a proper evening prayer of a Christian in a time of many troubles. The Christian asks God to hear his prayer and to give him relief from all his troubles. He does not pray and ask for relief because he thinks that he deserves it. He pleads to God for mercy, God’s undeserved love and kindness revealed through Christ Jesus, our only Lord and Savior. While he is asking God in His mercy to hear his prayer, at the same time he is certain that his prayers will be heard and answered. He confidently says, “The Lord will hear when I call to Him.”
The psalmist was asking those who were opposing him – which at that time were Absalom and his followers – how long they thought that they could get away with what they were doing. After all, David was set apart by God to be king in Israel. Going against what God had instituted was worthless and hopeless.
The psalmist says, “Be angry, and do not sin.” The thought here is, be angry with your sinful self and stand in awe before the holy God, lest you deliberately go the way of sinning and endanger your own salvation. In the darkness of the night, as you lie upon your bed, meditate quietly on what the will of the Lord is, and put your trust in His Word and promises.
There may be times when deliverance from all difficulties might seem far removed, but trust that the Lord will lift up the light of His countenance upon you and His face will shine upon you and give you peace. Look into the loving eyes of your forgiving Father.
Under the blessing of God, you will have more gladness and joy than those who are enjoying the material things of this world. At the close of each day, trusting in God who has revealed His mercy and grace through the sending of His Son to be the Savior of all people, you can say with the psalmist, “I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
In this violent, evil world, with faith and trust in our loving and forgiving God we place ourselves into His loving and caring hands. He will guard and protect us against the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh.
“The sun’s last beam of light is gone,
The darksome night comes swiftly on;
O Christ, our Light, upon us shine,
Lest we to sin’s dark ways incline.
Lord, if we angered Thee today,
Remember not our sins, we pray,
But let Thy mercy o’er them sweep,
And give us calm and restful sleep.” Amen.