Lord’s Day, Vol. 3 No. 27

A Psalm for the Eventide

– Meditations on Psalm 4

In whatever profession, the believer’s life is a life of service before God to the honour and glory of His name. In the course of service, he experiences God’s good hand blessing him although many a times, he would also experience weariness amidst the toil.

This is a psalm for the eventide as the psalmist retired after a typical day of labour. What would the godly do at the close of each day?

He brings his unfinished work and commits them before God (v1-2). He renews himself before God by consecrating himself to live a holy life (v3-4). He exercises faith to worship and waits upon God to help in all his trials (v5-6). He experiences gladness and peace in his heart as God gives him sleep (7-8).

1) Burdens Before God (v1-2)

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

The psalmist called out to God for mercy. A day seldom passes where there is no burden upon our heart. We need to lay them before the mercy seat at the throne of grace. “To enlarge” is “to make room”. The psalmist’s experience had always been that God would make a way for him when he called upon Him, whatever his troubles may be. Is this your experience too?

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

It will be to our shame if our afflictions are due to our sin when we spurn the law of God, transgress against it with impunity. The vain or foolish, whose pursuit of life is filled with deceit and trickery, ensnares.

2) Holiness Before God (v3-4)

3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

When we walk according to God’s ways, we receive God’s blessings. A godly man prays according to Scriptures. Will his prayers not be answered? The Lord will surely hear the prayers of a godly man.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

The fear of God continues to abide in the heart of the godly man as he retires to rest in the night. It is a time of prayer and rejoicing for having served Him throughout the day and now he keeps his heart still as he comes to rest.

3) Faith in God (v5-6)

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

The believer battles in his heart to quell the sneers of scorners who attempt to discourage him to trust in his LORD. How do we offer sacrifices of righteousness? By taking God at His Word and continuing to worship and look to Him especially in times of dire distress. David did so and testified in this psalm. Job did so too when he lost his wealth, ten children and health within a short span of time and was reduced to abject poverty.

Job 1:20-22 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

The period of Job’s trial was prolonged. It spanned 42 chapters. 3 “friends” came to accuse him of sinning against God, and therefore God’s wrath had fallen upon him. Job had to look to God for comfort. Faith in God was the thread that kept Job during his entire ordeal. He did not give up knowing that God would certainly do him good although he could not see how at the time of his trial (Job 13:15; 19:25-26). This was the record of Job’s triumphant faith.

When the trial of life intensifies, our faith must proportionally increase. Will you trust God during the time of your testing? The decision is made now and not when trial comes.

4) Joy and Peace from God (v7-8)

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

The psalmist esteemed eternal spiritual blessings more than temporal material blessings. God gave him gladness – joy in the heart; peace – a restful spirit and thus sleep – a heart full of faith.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

May the Lord keep you for His name’s sake! Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pr. Lek Aik Wee