Psalm 4 Devotional
By Pastor Lawrence

Does God answer our prayers? Perhaps not always in the way we expect or precisely when we desire it, but unquestionably, He does respond to the supplications of His people. In this brief psalm, David fervently implores the Lord to graciously heed his prayers. He repeats this plea twice in verse 1, acknowledging God’s past assistance. Then, in verse 3, he assures his adversaries that the Lord listens when a godly man cries out to Him. Some were questioning in verse 6, “Who will show us some good?” essentially wondering, “Where are the blessings promised to God’s beloved?”

This psalm partly aims to address those inquiries by revealing the greatest good that God can bestow upon His people. Instead of the fleeting happiness that comes from an abundance of material wealth, the Lord can directly fill a person’s heart with profound joy. In lieu of relying on well-fortified strongholds or defensive towers to temporarily alleviate the fear of impending threats, the Lord can instantly bestow a peace that surpasses all understanding. David has tasted these heavenly blessings before and yearns for them at this very moment. Despite being a king with access to worldly riches and secure refuges, none of these can provide comfort to his heart like the Lord.

Therefore, rather than contending with human adversaries to safeguard his rule and righteous reputation, he engages in a wrestling match with God through prayer. He turns to the One who rules over all and fills the world with his goodness. In doing so, David sets an example for his people, demonstrating humble reliance on the Lord and ushering them into God’s presence during their own trials and temptations. Yet, in this moment, he clings to the God of his righteousness and to the joy of his salvation.