Psalm 4:1-8

• No matter which end of the day we are on, our prayers have the same purpose

– whether something looming largely before us

– or whether evaluating the day’s events – failures, attacks, losses

• We must cry out to our trustworthy God

• Jeremiah 23:1-6

– Evil shepherds scattered the sheep, drove them away and did not attend to them (unrighteous)

– God will bring them back into the fold (righteous)

• They will be fruitful and multiply there

• They will be cared for again, safe and secure

– see also 1 Cor. 1:26-31

• Ephesians 4:26

– Being agitated and irritated often causes us to respond sinfully

– In order to maintain righteousness, we need help to settle our spirits

• I am angry about…

• Your grace is compensation for wrongs received

• I will unload my anger before sundown, so that I can worship with my brother

• two “Selah Stars” as markers

• a 3 line verse at the beginning, 6 lines (3 verses) at the end

an amplification?

• answer, call,

• righteousness

• made room for me

• in distress,

• be gracious, hear prayer

• reproaching honor,

• loving worthlessness,

• aiming at deception

• LORD,

• dealt wonderfully with,

• godly man,

• hears, call

In a prayer psalm, it makes sense to high-light answers.

4a.Be angry AND do-not-sin

4b.Meditate in-hearts on-beds AND be still

5.Offer right-sacrifices AND trust in-the-LORD

…

8a. In peace both I will bed down AND sleep

6a.“Who will show us any good?”

6b.lift light of your countenance, LORD

7a.You have put more joy in my heart

…

8b. LORD, make me dwell in safety

In an evening prayer psalm, it makes sense that Jehovah is seen as the giver of sleep, safety and rest

Trust counts on God’s natural response

time after time as I have called, He has answered

His dependability allows me to respond righteously

and He graciously answers me every time

Trust is tested by and proven in distress

our honor is not the most important result

our trust is not based on the worthless and deceptive advice offered by the culture

instead, love and practice God’s truths in trouble

Our trust in distress teaches others to trust

we are set apart for God, by God, to be godly

He always answers me, He will always answer you

Trust is a function of self-control

it fights off selfish responses by self-counsel

the stillness comes from release of the outcome to God’s action

it is active not passive

Trust is an act of worship

it is right to kill the control and offer your future back to God

trust is given to, not demanded by, God

Trust has an optimistic view of the future

when nothing is going right, trust expects a turn

this optimism is fueled by a personal love of God

and a personal joy that comes from seeing Him act

Trust has a contented view of the present

my current status is joyful

because I have been given a relationship with God

earthly excesses do not hold a candle to that

Trust finds refreshment even in chaos

peace to rest and “shut down” is difficult in chaos

trust is an understanding of God’s unique nature

only when God is in charge of watching, can I sleep

Trust

Prayer

Worship