Psalm 4 - Who brings good?

Psalm 4

¹ Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
² How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods^[b]?^[c]
3 Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
⁴ Tremble and^[d] do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the LORD.
⁶ Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
⁷ Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.
⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

Similar to Psalm 3 this psalm also is a prayer for help and deliverance from the attacks of others.  It continues with that theme, yet it also adds the specific plea to be merciful and hear my plea.  The charges against God have changed somewhat.  Instead of declaring “God will not deliver”… now the question is “who will bring us prosperity (any good)?

So the question becomes a little more personal.  Not only do we seek God’s deliverance.  But will we trust him to defend our honor.   And will we stand in his will to seek the joy he alone can give?   You see, we are set apart – that means called to be holy, to follow God’s ways.   Still when we look around at those attacks we often become tempted to sin in our anger and go along with the others who are “seeking out false gods”.  What that means is simply that we are looking to other things to bring us good.  We are trusting other things to bring us true happiness and joy (which only the lord can bring. 

That’s why the Psalmnist prayers “Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound”… because there is  greater joy in the Lord than the prosperity of wealth.

There is greater joy in the Holy Spirit than any food or drink (alcohol) can provide. 

For instance as an aside in Acts 2 the people accused the disciples of being drunk (filled with wine) but they were actually filled with the Holy Spirit and the joy of the Lord. 

I mention this because especially in Houghton the issue of drinking and alcoholism is a major problem.   Of course this issue affects other places too… but it’s a major issue here.  In part, I think it’s because it is a way to escape.  It tries to offer joy … drowning of sorrows.  It masquerades though our real need… that is the need for the Joy of the lord to fill us.  For that is the only lasting joy.  We can try to fill ourselves with new wine and food … but it is a fleeting happiness.  Now the focus of this passage is not that having a drink is as sin.  But what it is saying is that the lasting joy that we truly seek (that often others try to fill with things which become ‘seeking false gods’ ) the only lasting joy is trust in the Lord. 

As one commentary put it “ The gift of trusting God transcends the value of any material good”. (Interpretation Psalms by James L Mays)    

Questions to consider

What is the greatest joy in my life?

Do I see trusting in God as more valuable than any other material good that I might be tempted to pursue?