Post by Les Brewer on Jan 4, 2014 16:09:53 GMT
Grace Ministries Bible Study
The Relevance of Psalms Today
Psalm 4 (part 1)
In Acts 13:22 we see God’s description of the man that wrote most of the Psalms. He proclaims David to be “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” The books of 1&2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and Psalms reveal why David received this admonishment from the Lord. In your mind’s eye take a quick glance through these books at the life of David. David was brave, would not compromise God’s truth, prayed/communicated with God on a regular and consistence bases, would not move without hearing from the Lord, was obedient to God’s guidance and direction and most importantly he willingly and readily received rebuke and correction from his God. How would God describe you? Are you a man or woman after God heart? Let learn from David’s interactions with the Sovereign God and become men and women after His heart.
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”
Although David was the king of Israel and a very popular and beloved king, he humbly gave God His rightful place of honor in his reign over God’s people. God was the righteousness of David’s kingship. He was able to lead the God’s people justly because David sought God rightness. Servants of the living God I plead with you to seek God’s rightness as you lead His people. It is so easy to draft away from God’s purpose and focus for our ministries as is revealed in the next few verses. But I digress. I am getting a little ahead of myself.
The second part of this verse exposes why David was consistently blessed of the Lord. He had an excellent memory. David remembers that the Lord “enlarged” him, blessed him when he was in distress before and he simply prays “have mercy upon me” Lord, and do it again. As believers stress should not be a part of our lives, every situation that has occurred in your life has been resolved by the Sovereign God who loves each and every one of us. We need to remember.
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and see after leasing?
As I sought the Lord for the connection between verse one and verse two the Holy Spirit spoke to me saying, David’s life reflected God’s glory. Servants of the living God, we also reflect God’s glory and like David the enemy, through men, will come against you. You cannot be thin skinned. Remember it is God’s glory that was being rejected by the “sons of men.” These men and women love the emptiness of the material world and seeking after lies. These men and women are in our churches, ministries, and fellowships. They offer and suggest worldly, manipulative, and deceptive methods to win people to Christ, turning God’s glory into shame. These men and women always cause strife in the body. James describes their wisdom in chapter 3 verse 15, “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”.
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
Those servants that refuse to comprise God’s truth belong to God and He hears when they call out to Him. What a wonderfully comforting thought. Have you ever set something aside for yourself, because it was special to you? The godly are special to God. Has God set you apart for Himself?
The Relevance of Psalms Today
Psalm 4 (part 1)
In Acts 13:22 we see God’s description of the man that wrote most of the Psalms. He proclaims David to be “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” The books of 1&2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and Psalms reveal why David received this admonishment from the Lord. In your mind’s eye take a quick glance through these books at the life of David. David was brave, would not compromise God’s truth, prayed/communicated with God on a regular and consistence bases, would not move without hearing from the Lord, was obedient to God’s guidance and direction and most importantly he willingly and readily received rebuke and correction from his God. How would God describe you? Are you a man or woman after God heart? Let learn from David’s interactions with the Sovereign God and become men and women after His heart.
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”
Although David was the king of Israel and a very popular and beloved king, he humbly gave God His rightful place of honor in his reign over God’s people. God was the righteousness of David’s kingship. He was able to lead the God’s people justly because David sought God rightness. Servants of the living God I plead with you to seek God’s rightness as you lead His people. It is so easy to draft away from God’s purpose and focus for our ministries as is revealed in the next few verses. But I digress. I am getting a little ahead of myself.
The second part of this verse exposes why David was consistently blessed of the Lord. He had an excellent memory. David remembers that the Lord “enlarged” him, blessed him when he was in distress before and he simply prays “have mercy upon me” Lord, and do it again. As believers stress should not be a part of our lives, every situation that has occurred in your life has been resolved by the Sovereign God who loves each and every one of us. We need to remember.
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and see after leasing?
As I sought the Lord for the connection between verse one and verse two the Holy Spirit spoke to me saying, David’s life reflected God’s glory. Servants of the living God, we also reflect God’s glory and like David the enemy, through men, will come against you. You cannot be thin skinned. Remember it is God’s glory that was being rejected by the “sons of men.” These men and women love the emptiness of the material world and seeking after lies. These men and women are in our churches, ministries, and fellowships. They offer and suggest worldly, manipulative, and deceptive methods to win people to Christ, turning God’s glory into shame. These men and women always cause strife in the body. James describes their wisdom in chapter 3 verse 15, “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”.
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
Those servants that refuse to comprise God’s truth belong to God and He hears when they call out to Him. What a wonderfully comforting thought. Have you ever set something aside for yourself, because it was special to you? The godly are special to God. Has God set you apart for Himself?