The Story of Psalm 4, Part I

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: The Story of Psalm 4, Part I ------------------- Date: 7/14/2002
Keywords: "distress" "prayer" "problem" "struggle"
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Passage: Psalm 4* (Focus on verse 1)

1. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

2. Sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah.

3. But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.

4. Tremble, and do not sin; meditate in you heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD.

6. Many are saying, "Who will show us any good?" Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD!

7. You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and new wine abound.

8. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.

Questions

1. What does the writer mean by calling God his righteousness? What is he admitting?

 

2. List 4 requests the writer makes of God in verse 1:

 

Practical help

If you are here because you struggle with pornography, but have enjoyed some success at resisting temptation, do you fear you will inevitably slip again? Here is a short psalm for your meditation over the next six studies. It is written by someone who desires to do the right thing, who knows and understands right from wrong (he’s not kidding himself that sin is no big deal), and recognizes that the position of pursuing goodness stands in opposition to much in our modern culture today.

In verse 1, he is not demanding God answers him, he is making a request. Prayer is not presumption and we must approach God knowing that he is good and we are, in ourselves, weak and prone to doing bad things. Also the writer is acknowledging that God has already relieved his distress. Do you have a relationship with God? Don’t try to jump ahead in asking God to help you, if you have not first come to know who he is and what your relationship with him is based on. Trusting the God of the Bible is not a form of superstition. It is based on an established relationship. If this is foggy to you, click here.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."