55 min
Psalm 4 (part 2): Finding your Happiness in the Lord (Psalm 4:5-8) Oxford Bible Church - Living in the Last Days
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- Christianity
Last time in Psalm 4, we saw how David prayed for victory over the army of Absalom (2Samuel 18), putting his faith in His covenant-keeping God (v1), bringing him full assurance, resulting in confident declarations of faith flowing out of his prayer (v2-5). Next he describes the inner peace and happiness that he possessed through his fellowship with God in prayer (v6-8). He points out that most people are primarily seeking for things (outward prosperity), such as his opponents who were believing in Absalom's promises of a better life under his rule (v6a). Seeking things first before God and His righteousness (which is covetousness) is futile, as things can never ultimately satisfy us. But David understood that God is the source of all goodness, and that the key to inner happiness and satisfaction is face to face fellowship with God, who shines the light of His love, joy and peace into our hearts: "Lord, lift up the light of Your Countenance upon us" (v6b, Numbers 6:24-26). Likewise, Jesus said if we FIRST seek the Lord and His Presence (Spirit of Righteousness) in our hearts, then all these outward things (blessings) will also be added to us (Matthew 6:33). We must choose to love and serve God above mammon (Matthew 6:24). The test is, do we put God's Presents before His presents? - this was the test faced by Moses in the wilderness. David testified that through His prayer and fellowship with God, He imparted gladness in his heart, so that even when going through hard times, he possessed a greater inner happiness from God's Presence, than all the carnal people had, even at the time of their greatest prosperity (v7). the joy of the Lord does not depend on circumstances, but comes from God's Spirit within our hearts (Romans 14:17). Through spending time in God's Presence on the eve of the great battle, David prayed through to a place of inner peace, having put his trust in the Lord for his protection, so that he knows he will have a deep, peaceful and undisturbed sleep: "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (v8). In Psalm 3:5 tells us he woke up the next morning testifying: "I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me."
Last time in Psalm 4, we saw how David prayed for victory over the army of Absalom (2Samuel 18), putting his faith in His covenant-keeping God (v1), bringing him full assurance, resulting in confident declarations of faith flowing out of his prayer (v2-5). Next he describes the inner peace and happiness that he possessed through his fellowship with God in prayer (v6-8). He points out that most people are primarily seeking for things (outward prosperity), such as his opponents who were believing in Absalom's promises of a better life under his rule (v6a). Seeking things first before God and His righteousness (which is covetousness) is futile, as things can never ultimately satisfy us. But David understood that God is the source of all goodness, and that the key to inner happiness and satisfaction is face to face fellowship with God, who shines the light of His love, joy and peace into our hearts: "Lord, lift up the light of Your Countenance upon us" (v6b, Numbers 6:24-26). Likewise, Jesus said if we FIRST seek the Lord and His Presence (Spirit of Righteousness) in our hearts, then all these outward things (blessings) will also be added to us (Matthew 6:33). We must choose to love and serve God above mammon (Matthew 6:24). The test is, do we put God's Presents before His presents? - this was the test faced by Moses in the wilderness. David testified that through His prayer and fellowship with God, He imparted gladness in his heart, so that even when going through hard times, he possessed a greater inner happiness from God's Presence, than all the carnal people had, even at the time of their greatest prosperity (v7). the joy of the Lord does not depend on circumstances, but comes from God's Spirit within our hearts (Romans 14:17). Through spending time in God's Presence on the eve of the great battle, David prayed through to a place of inner peace, having put his trust in the Lord for his protection, so that he knows he will have a deep, peaceful and undisturbed sleep: "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (v8). In Psalm 3:5 tells us he woke up the next morning testifying: "I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me."
55 min