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By Tyson Thorne

December 31, 2014
 
 

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It can be stressful to see another year end, another one begin and perhaps this is the best time to remember that we worship a living God. In Psalm 4 David writes,

Answer me when I call to you,

O God who declares me innocent.

Free me from my troubles.

Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

In Psalm 4, David was in trouble, as seen in the four requests embedded in his invocation (v. 1). He looked to God for help not because he deserved it but on the basis of God’s mercy and faithfulness. If you feel like you’re in trouble, or are uncertain about the New Year, keep reading.

How long will you people ruin my reputation?

How long will you make groundless accusations?

How long will you continue your lies?

Interlude

You can be sure of this:

The Lord set apart the godly for himself.

The Lord will answer when I call to him.

Don’t sin by letting anger control you.

Think about it overnight and remain silent.

Interlude

Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,

and trust the Lord.

Often the Psalms petition for an enemies’ destruction, but here we see something very different. Instead, David warns his enemies to turn back to God! Such a spirit is demanded of us, Christ’s Bride. Jesus showed us a similar response when he cried out on the cross for his enemies rather than against them, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” David knew that God answers prayer (v. 3), which is why he warns his enemies (v. 4). No matter how far away God might seem, there is no excuse for turning away from Him. We must remain faithful (vv. 4-5).

Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”

Let your face smile on us, Lord.

In public, we should keep trusting and not give up fulfilling our religious duties. In private, we should search our hearts and discipline our thoughts. Waiting for God to answer and act is difficult, but it’s no excuse for faithlessness. The light of God’s face will shine on us again.

You have given me greater joy

than those who have abundant harvests of grain

and new wine.

Doubt may be natural, but His blessing is supernatural and sure (v. 7). David spoke of joy filling his heart as if it were an accomplished fact, so much so that he closed his psalm with an announcement that he was going to bed (v. 8)!

In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe

If I asked you to describe what joy looks like, you probably wouldn’t say “someone sleeping peacefully.” But that’s the picture David left us with. Because of God’s presence in his life, he wouldn’t lose any sleep over his troubles.

As we close the books on 2014 and open a new chapter tomorrow, may you rest easy in the knowledge that God’s mercy, grace and kindness will follow you into tomorrow and every day that follows.

Happy New Year.