“Hear My Prayer” (Ps 4)

“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer”

We have a request (vs1). He says, “Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer”. We turn to the Lord, and not to men, for the help that we need. The pastor isn't a God-substitute. He isn't consulted instead of speaking to Christ and then blindly followed. We go TO the Lord through men, and we consult with the Lord, judging men by what He says in the Book.

The Lord is the Savior and the One to help. We read, “Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless” (Ps 60:11). God has all power and might, and we have access to Him, and thereby to the promises only obtained by prayer and faith.

Look to the Lord. If you were hungry, you wouldn't go to the bathroom. You'd go to the kitchen. When your soul is needy, go, through the precious blood of Christ, all the way to God. Make your inquiry to Him!

Secondly, we have confidence and certainty that we will be heard (vs2-3)! He says, “But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the Lord will hear when I call to Him”. We've been set apart by God, not forsaken, and called into His fellowship. We are godly by grace, have faith in the Beloved Son, and we walk uprightly by the Spirit. Now, being sons in the gospel, and coming to God by faith, we can't be rejected in our pleas. He hears us continually, with a helping ear. He doesn't merely listen, as you'd pass by the pleadings of a drunk beggar, but He helps us assuredly, as a Father with His children! If we are evil and know how to bless our children, if we give them good in spite of what we are, then how much more will God give the Spirit to all who ask?

Thirdly, you must trust in the Lord, and do it right now (vs4-5). You've heard the victory proclaimed, even the truth of the gospel. Now, poor sinner, trust the Lord YOURSELF. He says, “You tremble, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah (Pause). Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord”. Don't serve vain lies and live for nothing. Be humbled and serve the Son, so that you can live forever. Don't merely SPECTATE at the feast, but come and take all that you need. He answers prayer. His way is full of glory, and He gives good rewards. Believe it.

Fourthly, the key of assurance is, “You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety”, and, “You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased”, so that he has two bookends to bind his rest, for he says, “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep” (vs6-8). He has the bookend of God's faithfulness, relying his soul upon Him alone! And, on the other side, he is book-ended by the pleasure of the gospel he's already enjoyed. He speaks about confident REST, because he's enjoying the fruit of believing. He can sleep well at night, because his eternal soul and temporal welfare is completely in the hands of God.

Learn by experience, and don't be foolish, but put your faith in the conquering Christ, who cares for His people, brings us to God, and ensures that it will be well with the righteous.