So, we're going to look at Psalm 4, and I've titled Psalm 4, "Joy in Hardship." Before we look at this Psalm, I want to ask you a question: Does the unexpected, the unwanted, the unplanned, the difficult, the hard thing, remove your joy? How sturdy is your joy?
You know, we've been through a pandemic that seemed like it was stretching on forever. For many of us, that meant physical hardship, a loss of a job, struggles in our churches, loneliness, and the list goes on. I had a pastor contact me recently and said, "My people just seem discouraged; they seem to have lost their joy."
Well, joy in hardship is one of the primary themes of the Psalms; that surely is the theme in Psalm 4. If your joy is circumstantial, if it's relational, if it's work related, if it's financial, or material, when hardship in those areas come, you will then experience a loss of your joy, and with it your motivation to continue.
Let me read Psalm 4:
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
There are many who say, "Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!"
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Well, the historical setting of Psalm 4 is important. Psalm 4 and 5 were written when David was in a cave, hiding with his band of brothers, from his son Absalom, who was conspiring to take his throne. Think of how heartbreaking that situation would be, betrayed by your own son.
And notice again this theme that David preaches the truth to himself. He says, "God has given me relief before; the Lord has set me apart for himself, so, the Lord will answer me when I call." Now, this is important: God will never ask you to deny reality. If you deny reality, you may reach temporary peace, but you're not exercising Biblical faith. Biblical faith is not about denying reality. But if you meditate on your hardship, you're going down.
David is, again, in this moment, reminding himself of where his true security is found. He's surrounded by guys who are panicking, and they're saying, "Who will show us some good?" They're saying, "Okay, David, how is this mess ever going to turn out anything but terrible?"
But David's joy is undiminished, even in the cave because his joy is not horizontal; his joy is vertical. Let me say that again: David's joy is not horizontal, it's not circumstantial, it's not relational, it's not financial, it's not material. Hs joy is vertical; the source of his joy is his Lord, not his situation. His safety is not in the hands of Absalom but in the hands of Lord."
And so, David says this; I love this at the end:
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
"I'm just going to bed because I have a reason for peace." That's sturdy joy. Do circumstances keep you awake? Maybe your joy is horizontal and not vertical.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. What are you currently going through that is unexpected, unwanted, and causing hardship? What was your immediate reaction to the distress? How have you matured through the suffering already? Where might God still be requiring you to grow spiritually, die to self, and rely on him? In what ways are you still sinning, holding on to idols, and/or questioning the goodness and wisdom of God during this difficulty?
2. What brings you temporary happiness? In other words, what is your "wine" and "grain", and when they abound, why are you happy? How are these good gifts from a loving God that you can enjoy? Have you become too reliant on the abundance, or even existence, of these things for happiness? How do you react when they are taken away or not accessible? Are you currently losing sleep (literally or figurately) over them? How can you take practical steps to appreciate and enjoy these gifts while still finding joy in the Giver, and not the gift? Might it require a season abandoning the gift completely?
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children: Do you like to sleep? Did you know that sleep is a good thing, and that God created sleep because he loves us and knows that we need to rest? Are you afraid to go to sleep or be alone in your bed? Why? What makes you afraid? Did you know that God will always keep you safe, wherever you sleep? Did you know that you can talk to God before you go to sleep, when you are struggling to sleep, and when you wake up from sleep? What can you say to God when you are afraid?
For Older Children: Are you happy with your life right now? Why or why not? What makes you happy, and what do you want even more of in your life to be even more happy? What is stressing you out currently? Did you know that David had joy even though his life's circumstances were far from happy times? Did you know that David was at peace even though he was stressed? How can there be a difference between joy (vertical) and happiness (horizontal)? How can someone be at peace even though they are stressed?
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