PM June 26th Psalm 4

June 26^th Psalm 4

¹A Psalm of David. Conflict between the seeds

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. 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. 3: But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 4: Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 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. 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.

²To the chief musician on Neginoth.

Psalm 5

A Psalm of David. The Perfect man in the middle of his enemies

1: Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2: Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3: My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4: For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5: The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6: Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7: But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8: Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9: For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10: Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11: But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12: For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

To the chief musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith.

Psalm 6

A Psalm of David. The Prefect man chastised

1: O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2: Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3: My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? 4: Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. 5: For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6: I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7: Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8: Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9: The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. 10: Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Today we are reading three Psalms 4, 5 & 6. In Psalm 4 David says Hear me when l call Lord. You are the God before whom l am righteous. You have made me great when l was in distress. Treat me with kindness and hear my prayer. Then he rebukes then men who are his foes. He says how long will you glory in my shame? How long will you love empty plans? Think of it. He says l want you men to know that God sets apart all those who live lives righteously according to law. And the LORD will hear them when they call on him. So stand in awe of God and stop your sinning and talk to yourself on your bed and be still – think of that. Offer to the Lord the sacrifices of righteous deeds and put your trust in the LORD. There are many who doubt the Lord but He has put joy in my heart more than the joy of harvest time. I will sleep in perfect peace because the Lord makes me to live in safety. The Fifth Psalm is a prayer. Where David says to the Lord. O LORD think about my thoughts. Listen to me – My King – My God. I will lift up my eyes to pray to you in the morning. You have no pleasure in wickedness. Foolish men cannot stand before you, because you hate all wicked men. And you will destroy all those who live like that. You hate men of blood and craftiness. But l will approach you in you abounding mercy and in reverence l will worship toward the holy temple. Lead me Lord in righteousness because my enemies because my enemies surround me. They are untrustworthy and full of wickedness. There mouth is like an open grave. Destroy them O God. Let them be caught in their own snares. Banish them from your presence. But let all those who trust in you rejoice. They them shout for joy. Because you fight for them May the joy of the Lord fill their hearts. Because you will bless the righteous. You will be like a shield around them. Then in the 6^th Psalm David pleads with the Lord not to rebuke him in his anger. Or punish him too much. He says have mercy on me. because l am weak. Heal me O LORD and save me because l am very troubled. How long LORD before you help me? David pleads and it breaks your heart to hear him plead. He says if l am killed l will not be able to remember you then and in my grave how will l give you thanks. David is exhausted and weeps profusely. He commands wicked men to leave him alone because he says in faith the LORD has heard my weeping. May my enemies be ashamed and turn away from me.

• How does David encourage the righteous in Psalm Four?
• How does David manage to survive surrounded by enemies in Psalm Six?
• How does David cope with the discipline of the Lord under the Law in Psalm Seven?

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