A SONG OF CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD

A SONG OF CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD
PSALM 4:1-8
Cooper Abrams

Introduction: This Psalm is indeed a prayer. It is a prayer of trust in the Lord. The Psalm was sung accompanied on a stringed instrument. The word (neg ee naw) "negi'noth" means stringed or hand instruments such as harps and cymbals.
I. THE HEART CRIES OUT IN DESPERATION. Psalm 4:1-3

A. "Hear me" means "please answer me"!

1. The child of God cries out to the Author and Finisher of his faith. (Heb. 12:1-2) The prayer addresses God as "my righteousness." The psalmist knows and recognizes that in himself there is no righteousness. The psalmist righteousness is in Almighty God Himself. Only God is righteous. This is a foundation truth that must be understood to find true help in a time of desperation. "Rightness" ...begins with God.
2. It is an absolute truth that for the child of God, the Lord is the source of comfort and help in a time of trouble or need.
3. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12) The key to understanding this verse is qualifying the statement....it says "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus."
This morning I read a Christian newspaper published by Mike Haxton which is sent to pastors in the Northwestern states. Part of the paper was written to encourage pastors. The thought crossed my mind that if pastors are suffering from the assaults of the forces of evil, from discouragement....most likely some in the congregation...especially the faithful, are too.

B. Distress indicates pressure and the pressures of life can be very great.

1. We need encouragement, we are humans and subject to pressure and distress. We can be overcome with both physical, mental and spiritual difficulties. Often one or the other involves all three. These things can bring depression and release a whole mass of negative thoughts that can oppress us.
2. God is well aware of our vulnerability. There is no shame or any restraint on God's part towards helping us.
Psa. 50:15 "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."
3. Other Scriptures on the subject:
Psa. 145:18 "the Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth"
Psa. 18:6, "In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears."
Isa. 65:24, " And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer: and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
Psa. 55:16, "As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me"
Psa. 86:7, "in the day of my trouble I will call upon thee for thou wilt answer me."
Psa. 91:15, " He shall call upon me and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him."

B. Verse 2, expresses the fact that man in general ignores God. This in itself dishonors God for it fails to recognize God's love and concern for us. To shun God's reaching out is wanton act of sin.

His hearts cries out in pain at seeing men reject God. He sees the vanity of it.
"leasing" means "lying or deception". That is the way of the world, to reject truth and seek a lie.
Think of all the false religion and man sincere dedication to it. Think of all the religious acts man does, when true salvation is simple and free.

C. The fact is simply stated, to God, those that seek after him in Godliness, are set apart for special treatment, in that their prayers are heard.

1. God does not hear the prayers of the wicked.
2. Verses: Deut. 1:45, 3:26, Job 35:12, Jer. 11:11, John 9:31, James 1:6-7, 4:3, Psa. 34:15, 66:18, Prov. 15:29
3. The lost man is cut off from God. His sin separates him the Lord. He is alone. His only hope is to turn to God, and pray the prayer of faith and seek God.

II. THE SOUL TAKES ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE FACT OF GOD'S PROVISION. Psalm 4:4-8

A. You are only awed by that you respect and see as valuable.

1. Some such as myself hold no admiration for sports figures and hero's. Whether it is baseball, football, basket ball, hockey, it a show put on for the public. It is done to make money and even in collegiate sports it is a business.
To me it is amusing to see a team win and the fans start running wild, proclaiming they are NO. 1! The news media exploits the fans to increase tickets sales and advertising. And people pay their hard earned money to be exploited

ILLUS: It is the same way with Hollywood. It is a business. Turn on the TV news and you are assaulted with news of some "star" shaving her head, not taking care of her children. Some star is committing adultery and is getting a divorce. Another "comes out" and proclaims proudly they are gay! I have gotten to the place I do not watch the news much....it really does not matter anyway. . I say .....Who cares? Answer is lots of people care and seem to thrive on such filth.
Young children know who all the "stars" are and know all about them. Parents you should teach your children about such things. There idols ought not to be rock and Hollywood stars.

2. A Christian's hero should be Almighty God and the heroes of the faith. God is a wonderful, loving and powerful God. He is deserving of honor and glory. He does not exploit, but helps and lifts up those that need his help.
3. The key is in knowing the fact that we all do need help. All, everyone without exception.

B. If God is to be honored then to honor Him we must turn over ourselves to Him. The word here is sacrifice. We sacrifice our carnal wants and desires for the eternal reward of serving. V5
To turn one's self over to the Lord is to put your trust, not in your own wisdom, but in the instructions of God.
C. Verse 6. Many ask the question expressed here that says basically, "Where is the good of God."

1. Man's false idea of what is good is of pleasure, riches, self gratification.
2. These things are not good for man, thus they do not come from God.
3. This is why man rejects God, for God will not give man, even when he asks for it, that which will harm him.
4. Our desire should be, let the full light of the righteousness of God fall on us, that every sin and wickedness of ourselves be exposed and put away from us.

D. True joy, satisfaction and gladness can only come from God. There is no other source for such things. True blessings, true benefit both spiritual and material comes from God.
Material things can only please when they are understood in the light of eternity. Material things are temporal.

CONCLUSION: Psalm 4:8:

1. The true believer can lay down his head at night and rest in peace, knowing he is in the every watchful and caring hands of God.
2. He does not let the worries of the world, rob him of his assurance in the love of God. Like a baby in the arms of its loving mother, the child of God, rests in the arms of the Lord.
3. The children's bed time poem: (Words changed a little to teach God's truth)
Now I lay be down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to Keep,
If I should die before I wake,
I know my soul Christ will take!

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