Tag Archives: psalm 4

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; C.H. – No Gumball Answers

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The first ever reference to a vending machine was from the work of Hero of Alexandria (c. AD 10-70). You may be surprised to know it was designed to dispense holy water. Over the years, the popularity of vending machines has grown steadily. Now you can attain anything from gumballs to plastic rings to canned drinks and snacks.

Then a wind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp.  Numbers 11:31

Why the popularity? People like instant gratification. While wandering in the wilderness, God provided the Israelites manna each day. But the people complained to Moses because they wanted meat. Like so many children aiming for the golden vending machine prize, the Israelites were dissatisfied with God’s provision and asked for more. The Lord sent so much quail, it took two whole days to gather it. He provided, but soon His anger burned against them.

Prayer cannot be treated like coin-operated machines. God doesn’t work that way, but He will come alongside you if you ask. Take your concerns for the nation and its leaders to your Heavenly Father. Be assured He will be with you. Just remain grateful, and don’t expect Him to dispense answers like gumballs.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 4

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Sleep in Peace

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In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust. —Psalm 4:8

In the quiet of the evening after a long day, it’s not unusual to think about and evaluate the events of the day. But thoughts can be disturbing, especially if you faced problems that remain unsolved.

Sometimes these thoughts are not easy to turn off and can threaten to rob you of a peaceful night’s sleep. But staying awake and worrying will not change or improve the situation at all.

This is a good time to share your concerns with God and ask for His help. He tells us in His Word to cast our cares on Him, so give your thoughts to Him and trust Him to provide a solution. Then lie down and sleep in peace.

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Our Daily Bread — Overcoming Bad News

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LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. —Psalm 4:6

“There are many who say, ‘Who will show us any good?’” (Ps. 4:6). These words of David seem to describe the pessimistic outlook we so easily develop in our world today. The front page of newspapers and the top stories on the Internet or television seem to focus on crime, accidents, politics, the economy, and prominent people behaving badly. Our conversations at work and home begin to dwell on difficulties, and it’s enough to discourage anyone. Where can we turn for better news?

In the midst of his troubles, David turned to the Lord, who relieved his distress (v.1) and heard his prayer (v.3). Instead of hoping for temporary good from altered circumstances, he found unceasing encouragement in God. “LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us” (v.6). The result was a gladness of heart that surpassed any earthly prosperity or success (v.7).

Throughout David’s life, before and after he became king of Israel, he was never without opposition. But at the end of the day, he could say, “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (v.8).

Pondering the truths in Psalm 4 about God’s care for us is a good way to begin and end every day. —David McCasland

In His care confiding

I will sweetly sleep,

For the Lord my Savior

Will in safety keep. —Psalter

God is a safe dwelling place in life’s storms.

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Alistair Begg – A Mournful List of Honors

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O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? Psalm 4:2

An instructive writer has made a mournful list of the honors that the blinded people of Israel awarded to their long-expected King.

1. They gave Him a procession of honor, in which Roman legionaries, Jewish priests, and men and women took part, He Himself bearing His cross. This is the triumph that the world awards to Him who comes to overthrow man’s greatest enemy. Derisive shouts are His only acclamations, and cruel taunts His only songs of praise.

2. They presented Him with the wine of honor. Instead of a golden cup of generous wine, they offered Him the criminal’s anesthetic potion, which He refused in order that he might, in all its unmitigated horror, taste death; and afterwards when He cried, “I thirst,” they gave Him vinegar mixed with gall, thrust to His mouth upon a sponge. What wretched, detestable inhospitality to the King’s Son.

3. He was provided with a guard of honor, who showed their esteem of Him by gambling over His clothes, which they had seized as their treasure. The bodyguard of Jesus was a quaternion of brutal gamblers.

4. A throne of honor was found for Him upon the bloody tree. The cross was, in fact, the full expression of the world’s feeling toward Him. “There,” they seemed to say, “you Son of God, this is the manner in which God Himself should be treated, could we reach Him.”

5. The title of honor was nominally “King of the Jews,” but this was distinctly repudiated. They really called Him “King of thieves” by preferring Barabbas and by placing Jesus in the place of highest shame between two thieves. In this way His glory was turned into shame by the sons of men, but it shall nevertheless still gladden the eyes of saints and angels, world without end.