Psalm 4
1 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.
2 How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
3 But know that the LORD has set apart[a] for Himself him who is godly;
The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
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.
Truly our joy comes from Him. His grace...His unmatchless grace puts joy in our hearts. I am sure many in David's ranks had begun to complain and get discouraged. "Who will show us any good" was probably something that was repeated often and had reached David's ears many times. Girls, how easy is it to complain and be discouraged by our circumstances? Waiting on God can wear on us . His timing is not our timing. We want our troubles and trials to end. We want peace and tranquility. We want an end to the grief and the pain. We begin to complain and in complaining about our circumstances and what we do not have or are not getting we are sinning. We are complaining against God and saying He is not good. David shows such courage here He surrenders his complaints to the Lord, by faith asks the Lord to lift up the light of His countenance on him and then speaks of the gladness and joy the Lord has placed in his heart. David is living here for the things that matter. The eternal. Outward joy and happiness is temporary. It comes and goes with our circumstances. It is a band aid...not a permanent fix. David is seeking the inward joy that comes from knowing the Lord of the Universe intimately. This kind of joy defeats discouragement and is steady and continuous as we put our trust in Him. The Psalmist can, despite his circumstances, be joyful because the Lord is his God. He knows the Lord brings Him only those things that will ultimately be for his good. James tells us "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." David goes to the source of all that is good. Others may have been looking for the outward trappings of good, but David knows what will provide him with the most joy...the light of His Lord's countenance upon Him which to David and to each of us is an assurance of His love and His power in our lives. He knows that whatever happens, he has and will always have the unspeakable satisfaction in His Lord and says that it is more than the joy that comes with a plentiful harvest.
Contrast Psalm 49: 16-20 with Psalm 21:6 and Psalm 44:3
Psalm 49:16-20
Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see light.
20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
Is like the beasts that perish.
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.
Truly our joy comes from Him. His grace...His unmatchless grace puts joy in our hearts. I am sure many in David's ranks had begun to complain and get discouraged. "Who will show us any good" was probably something that was repeated often and had reached David's ears many times. Girls, how easy is it to complain and be discouraged by our circumstances? Waiting on God can wear on us . His timing is not our timing. We want our troubles and trials to end. We want peace and tranquility. We want an end to the grief and the pain. We begin to complain and in complaining about our circumstances and what we do not have or are not getting we are sinning. We are complaining against God and saying He is not good. David shows such courage here He surrenders his complaints to the Lord, by faith asks the Lord to lift up the light of His countenance on him and then speaks of the gladness and joy the Lord has placed in his heart. David is living here for the things that matter. The eternal. Outward joy and happiness is temporary. It comes and goes with our circumstances. It is a band aid...not a permanent fix. David is seeking the inward joy that comes from knowing the Lord of the Universe intimately. This kind of joy defeats discouragement and is steady and continuous as we put our trust in Him. The Psalmist can, despite his circumstances, be joyful because the Lord is his God. He knows the Lord brings Him only those things that will ultimately be for his good. James tells us "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." David goes to the source of all that is good. Others may have been looking for the outward trappings of good, but David knows what will provide him with the most joy...the light of His Lord's countenance upon Him which to David and to each of us is an assurance of His love and His power in our lives. He knows that whatever happens, he has and will always have the unspeakable satisfaction in His Lord and says that it is more than the joy that comes with a plentiful harvest.
Contrast Psalm 49: 16-20 with Psalm 21:6 and Psalm 44:3
Psalm 49:16-20
Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see light.
20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
Is like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 21:6
For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.
.
Psalm 44:3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.
Girls...I will end with these verses...revel in the joy that knowing Him brings!
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 43:4 Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.
Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
Psalm 63:2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.
Psalm 63:3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
Psalm 63:4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
Psalm 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
Psalm 63:6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Psalm 63:7 Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
Psalm 63:8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
Psalm 63:10 They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals.
Psalm 63:11 But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.
1Pe 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Love
Mom
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