INTRODUCTION
Read Psalm 4
When we left David in Psalm 3, he had returned to his kingdom, renewed in his faith, with courage that came only from God. He had been spending a morning in prayer, but more than that he was `a disciple wanting to make disciples'. He needed to remind his people that they were children of God and they too could have the assurance that he had, that they too could have an intimate relationship with Him.
In this Psalm we see 3 ways he did this:
1) By REBUKING - calling them to `consider their ways' and reminding them as God's children they had dishonoured God with their actions, and this had placed a barrier between them and God. This is not saying that God had ever left their side, but they were the ones who had `moved away'.
"Your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, He has turned away and He will not listen." Isaiah 59:2 (NLT)
2) By ENCOURAGING - sharing with them his own experiences, so they too could come back to God, regain this `closeness' and could trust and serve Him
"Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5 & 6 (NIV)
3) By PRAYING - David showed them how important prayer was in developing and keeping a close relationship with God, by engaging in this practice both morning and night.
"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you, O Lord, will keep me safe." Psalm 4:8 (NLT)
Read Psalm 4:1
David's prayer begins with an acknowledgment that as a child of God he had been forgiven of his sins, and he knew God would continue to have mercy on him. Yes, he still had troubles, but now the barrier that had been caused by sin had been broken down, and when troubled, he knew exactly where to go, He knew God would always be there, ready and willing to listen.
1) Do you have this same assurance? Is there anything that still stands before you and God? Pray about this and thank Him for his mercy.
REBUKING
Read Psalm 3:2-4; Micah 3:1-12; 7:18&19
David wanted his people, those he loved and were under his care, to have this same mercy and peace that he found in knowing God personally. Can you hear in his words, this desperation.
"How long will you people ruin my reputation? How long will you make groundless accusations? How long will you continue your lies?" Psalm 4:2 (NLT)
He still felt a little hurt and maybe a little angry at their actions, but he loved his people and was concerned about their souls. This is the same desperation that God feels, and wants us to feel, for our family, friends, neighbours and colleagues who don't know Him.
"The Lord is not slow in doing what He has promised - the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but He wants everyone to come to repentance, and to change their hearts and lives." 2 Peter 3:9 (NCV)
"Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed from your sins. Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19 (NCV)
Sometimes we need to rebuke those we love, for this is the only way they will see the truth. In Micah we find another man of God, a minor prophet with a major heartache for the people of Jerusalem. He was a contemporary of Isaiah, in the time of kings Ahaz, Jotham and Hezekiah. Like Isaiah and David before him, he needed to rebuke the people God had placed in his care. These people were idolators, dishonest and corrupt leaders. Like David had in the past, he again had to show `God's `children' that their sin was separating them from God.
But my favourite verses in the book of Micah come right at the end, when we are reminded, as chosen children of God, godly people and `survivors' in a world of depravity and evil, that God continues to have mercy on us.
"Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among His people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing mercy. Once again, you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them in the depths of the ocean. You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love." Micah 7:18&19
2a)What do David and Micah's messages have in common?
b) Is there anyone you are desperate to share the Good News with? How can you share this message of repentance and forgiveness with them?
ENCOURAGEMENT.
Read Psalm 4:3-7, Isaiah 1:14-17, Micah 6:6-8
Both Micah and David knew about sin, but they also knew they had been chosen by God. They had learnt from experience and suffering that real trust and ultimate joy in service came from knowing God personally.
3a) How did David say the people in his care needed to show their faith in God?
b) What did Isaiah and Micah have to say about this?
In David's time, sacrifices were a duty - something you did you show how much your honoured and trusted God. It was also a `sacrifice of righteousness'. Later in Isaiah and Micah's day, God was wanting more than sacrifices. He wanted the people to `learn to be good, to do what was right, to seek justice, help the oppressed, love mercy and to walk humbly with God'. David was beginning to see these as important too, for he had discovered that `greater joy' comes from KNOWING AND TRUSTING the Lord, rather than `the abundance of wine and grain'.
Since Jesus died for us, as the ultimate sacrifice, we no longer need to go through this acts of killing and burning animals, but we do need to be `holy and living sacrifices'. We need to live righteous lives, trusting God through obedience to His will.
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies as a living sacrifice - the kind He will accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing His perfect will really is."
Romans 12:1&2
PRAYER
Read Psalm 4:8, Micah 5:2-5, Isaiah 9:9-7
David finishes his prayer with a final reasurrance that when we lay down to sleep, we are not alone, for the Lord keeps us safe. I sometimes have trouble sleeping, but I find, like David, that prayer in the evening is a good way to finish the day - casting all your cares on Him and trusting that in the morning, I may still not have all the answers to my struggles, but I will have peace, knowing God is in control. In these final words, David also commits his life and future into God's hands.
Micah and Isaiah also had confidence in this `salvation', and they introduce us to its source - a little baby who would be born in Bethlehem, a `Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace'.
4. How were David, Micah and Isaiah able to have such assurance? How can we have this same assurance?
In her book, `The Power of Praying through the Bible', Stormie Omartin reminds us:
"Whenever you feel desperate to know that God is close and is hearing your prayers, remember God hears the prayers of the godly. Be encouraged! As God's child, you have his ear. Stay close, and He promises to hear you when you call."
AN EVENING PSALM - Isacc Watts.
Lord, thou wilt hear me when I pray, I am forever thine.
I fear Thee all the day, nor would I dare to sin.
And while I rest my weary head, from cares and business free.
`Tis sweet conversing on my bed with my own heart and Thee.
I pay this evening sacrifice and when my work is done.
Great God, my faith and hope relies upon Thy grace alone.
Thus with my thoughts composed to peace, I'll give mine eyes to sleep
Thy hand in safety keeps my days, and will my slumber keep.
CONCLUSION
So we start the day with prayer and we can end it. Of course, knowing we have an omnipresent God, it doesn't hurt to talk to him any time during the day, for He is always listening. We need to seek God's mercy and ask his forgiveness for mistakes we have made, we need to then give our lives anew as a true `sacrifice' in obedience, faith and trust. Finally we need to remember our salvation and peace comes only through the amazing sacrifice of God's own Son, Jesus. With all these in mind our prayers will truly bring us into a relationship with our Father and his Son, that is everlasting and full of joy.
* The New Matthew Henry Commentary, Edited by Martin H Manser, Zondervan
* New Living Translation (1996), Tyndale House Publishers
* New International Version (2003) Thomas Nelson Inc.
* New Century Version: Max Lucado's Devotional Bible (2003) Thomas Nelson Inc.
* "The Power of Praying Through the Bible" (2008) Stormie Omartin, Harvest Publishers.
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micah_(prophet)
* The Psalms of David - Isacc Watts.
No comments:
Post a Comment