A Study of Psalm 3 and 4
Psalm 3-4
Introduction
- Psalms broken into 5 books, covered an extensive time period
- Gathered together as songs of praise & words of encouragement/warning
- We are currently in book 1, Psalm 1-41, then will move to something else
- There are psalms of wisdom, royal psalms, lament psalms, & thanksgiving
- There are also psalms of pilgrimage and enthronement (majesty of God) psalms
- If we determine to apply ourselves, this could be a life changing study
- We are in a tough time for our church; believe that God is still at work
- I want us, as a church, to ask and see if we can’t rejoice more
- We ought to be able to praise, and prayerfully you will want more daily
- Read Psalm 3-4 / Pray
Point 1 – Psalm 3 (Trust in God)
- Something to note here is that both of these Psalms were written by David
-- Both of these have the back story of David being forced from his palace
-- Absalom (David’s son) has won over the hearts of the country
-- In doing so … he has and thrown David from power; coup d'état
- David’s problems
• Many foes resist him (1); David proclaims so many are against him
• Many foes ridicule him (2); Even his faithful have turned from him
- This is a critical setup to the next few verses
-- “Lord, where are those who used to walk with me in support?”
- “Selah” is written in (v2, 4, 8) as a musical pause; consider what’s been said
-- APP: Marinate on what you’ve just read, let it sink in; re: David’s question
- David’s protection
• God is my shield (3a); proclamation of battle, who protest him?
• God is my sovereign (3b); proclamation of eternity; where is his faith?
• God is my strength (3c); proclamation of ability; how can I fight?
• God is my savior (4); proclamation of certainty; I am His!
- Selah: consider repeating this for yourself when you are in a battle
-- APP: Who do you rely on for your strength and comfort?
- David’s peace
• God sustains me (5); My favorite verse … I can sleep at night (expound)
• God secures me (6); There is nothing else I need; God is sovereign
- Where do you find your strength? Who is your provider? Where’s your faith?
-- David’s plea is direct, firm, and without end. GOD is his every need!
-- So, he asks God to do something bold and specific …
- David’s petition
• Rise up, Lord (7a); this is a battle cry … let’s go to work, Lord!
• Rescue me, Lord (7b); fight the battle for me; defeat my enemies
• Restore us, Lord (8); God, you are my victor … rescue us now
- HUGE: From trouble comes confidence … IF your faith is secure in God
-- Rom 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
-- David’s proclamation is that God is all he needs; not his own strength
-- Paul states the same in Romans 8; it is God’s purpose we are drawn together
Point 2 – Psalm 4 (Calm my soul, Lord)
- We must have confidence that God’s authority is over everything
-- Psalm 4 is written at the end of a tough and anxious filled day (see Psalm 3)
-- Notice how David’s focus becomes Godward, and inward directed
- IMP: David is NOT about to have a pity party … but prays for more of God
- CHALLENGE: Perhaps this could be how you might end a tough day?
- David’s request
• God, answer me (1a); Lord, hear me … relieve and have mercy
- Please comfort me (assurance) because I know that you hear my prayer
-- David’s righteousness is being asserted here … he knows God hears him
-- Therefore, his prayer is very specific in verse 1 (should be ours as well)
- David’s rebuke
• Men shame me (2); speaks directly of what the currently state is
- Notice that the world is falling apart God; these choose wickedness over you
• God sanctifies me (3); David is speaking about his enemies about God
- APP: Even in his defeat, he proclaims that God will STILL be victorious
-- Because of God’s incredible faithfulness, he still hears David’s cry to Him
- So, David gets very specific in his prayer ABOUT those against Him
-- APP: Pay very close attention to the way David does this … great example
-- We too ought to learn how to pray for those against us as well
- HUGE: This is NOT lip service … this is faith being lived out faithfully
- David’s rebuttal
• Search your hearts (4); David pleads for them to examine their hearts
- He challenges them to not sin; to consider what they have done …
• Silence your mouths (4); Reflect on what you have done
- He challenges them to examine their consciences; ponder God’s ways
• Sacrifice your lives (5); Abandon their selfish desires/sacrifices
- He pleads with them to want to live for God; to stop living selfishly
-- Live a life that honors God, instead of a self-gratifying one
- David’s relief
• Favor me with goodness (6); David has many asking, “Who will bring…”
- Several have stuck by him, and now they are wondering where is the reward
-- Re: Moses in the desert … “are we there yet?” … same application here
-- They are asking David, “Hey man, where is our next meal coming from?”
• Fill me with joy (7); David asks for God’s joy; calming effect on him
- He wants the joy of God to take the place of the anxiety now being shown
• Flood me with peace (8); ref Psalm 3:5 … God is his protector
- David’s prayer is for others to live for God; and for God to be lived in Him
-- APP: Even in his own angst and trouble – he does NOT lash out against others
-- His voice is a calm one; one specifically devoted to what God has said
- HUGE: God has called us to be deliberate in our lives as well … are we?
Big Idea – Confidence enables trust!
- In Psalm 3 we saw that trouble brings confidence if our faith is in God
- In Psalm 4 we learn that David’s life reflects a life well-lived trusting God
- Can we learn anything from David that perhaps we didn’t know?
- Absolutely! We can learn that living for God is possible – if we desire it
-- Psalm 4:4-5 is a direct prayer that he could’ve prayed over your life
- Our challenge here is learning that we first need to stop and submit to God
-- If we keep trying to do this ourselves; constantly being in control
-- We will always feel like we are running a rat race … like there is no end
- Most times … we really do need to STOP, and just listen/wait for the Lord
- Pray
