Psalms 4:1 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!
2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!"
7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Devotional:
Any fool can ask questions that even five sages cannot answer. Christians don't have all the answers either. Our bumper stickers say, "Christ is the Answer," but we shouldn't really say that before we have heard the questions.
The globe is getting crowded, and the pie is unequally divided. In the coming years we expect more wars, more corruption, more hunger, and more poverty next to fabulous wealth and abundance. Christ is the answer to the world's social and economic problems, but we won't see his solution until his kingdom has come. In the meantime we make choices and elect representatives, often wondering what the right direction is.
Many are asking and millions are crying, "Who will show us any good?"
The believer's answer is a prayer to God: "Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD."
This answer does not solve all of earth's problems. We still need a fair income, a good crop, justice for the oppressed, and retribution for the thieves. We must beat cancer and heal broken hearts.
But the believer says, "Above all I desire God's grace, his smile, and his favor. As long as God is with me, my deepest need is filled. If I had everything but didn't have him, my life would still be bankrupt."
