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Psalm 4:5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 27, 2017

 
Psalm 4:5 “Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.”
 
[In all things, including those that “make me angry,” (that is, actually reveal my own selfish agenda), I must make the right sacrifices by trusting in you, O LORD.
 
It is so easy to do what comes by nature, to offer sacrifices that do not please you: to punish myself, deny myself to make myself better, try to earn your acceptance by my own “good” works.
 
In contrast, what are the sacrifices you desire? One is this: “He who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me…” (Psa. 50:23). Or as it is expressed in the New Testament, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Heb. 13:15).
 
This is what God desires, a response based on heavenly wisdom that honors Him with trust and faith. This means believing He has a good and loving plan for each of us and will use whatever He allows into our lives for good. Therefore, we can sacrifice our natural response to complain on the altar of trust, and instead praise in the midst of distress, thank in the midst of pain, delight in the midst of disappointment.
 
This is a right sacrifice, for it is done by faith, not by sight—and by offering this, all is transformed: suffering, disappointment, hurt, persecution, injustice, loss and difficulty all become platforms for giving God glory, and bringing transformation in our lives.
 
As the Word says, “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him” (Heb. 11:6). Offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving is an act of faith, a wonderful way to please God.
 
No wonder Paul could say in 2 Corinthians 12:9,10, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Paul knew that praise brings power from God, that “he who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving…opens the way that I may show him the salvation of the Lord” Ps 50:23b).
Paul knew this because God told him directly: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul believed this so deeply that when he had difficulties, he rejoiced, he got excited, he embraced them as positive: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties” (2 Cor. 12:10).
 
Paul’s understanding of God’s character, of His way of working, of eternal Truth, of the “right-side-upness” of God’s Kingdom compared to the “upside downness” of this world’s led him to say, “…when I am weak, then I am strong.” That is a faith sacrifice that God wants.
 
Lord, may I live that today, understanding the unseen so clearly that the power and truth of your Word may flow out of my life in responses of thanksgiving in whatever comes, in a sacrifice of trust that will bring delight to you!]
 
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Psalm 4:4

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 26, 2017
Psalm 4:4 “In your anger do not sin;” [Quoted by Paul in Ephesians 4:26 “ ‘in your anger do not sin.’ Do no let the sun go down while you are still angry.”]
 
We will certainly all be angry at times, but the question is, what do we do with our anger? Will it control us or will Truth rule with the Spirit’s power, as we look to see what our anger is telling us?
 
Am I prepared to cooperate with the Spirit by daily filling myself with Truth, memorizing and meditating on Scripture so I can let Truth, not anger, have free reign? Am I able to look at each situation from God’s point of view, to have His big picture rather than just focus on my own unhappiness?
 
His point of view is, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2, 3).
 
Am I living for my own comfort or for God’s glory?   Have I been consistently calling upon the Lord in my weakness and seeing Him answer, or just limping along on my own? Have I been delighting in His Word, putting it into practice or have I just been living on a human level in feeble human strength, perspective and selfishness?
 
Each moment of anger can be viewed out of all the previous years’ input, obedience and experience of God working things out, and thereby used for good in my life.]
 
“when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.”
 
[When I lie awake at night, emotions riled, angry, blaming others, I must willfully, carefully, realistically look at my own heart and then I will be silenced when I see the sin and selfishness there.
 
I am no better than the others who have offended me. Clearly I am no good to God in my natural self, yet you, Lord, constantly love me, draw me back to yourself, rebuke, correct, forgive and restore.
 
So I must do with others, seeking to help them rather than attacking them, even in my thoughts. I must lay in your hands the right to blame, accuse, get revenge or fight. Revenge is yours; my job is to bless, to pray for, to do good—wow, what a contrast!
 
I praise you for your grace and goodness, for the privilege of being called to live on your level, to open the floodgates of transforming resources into the lives of those around me, especially on those who are against me, who fight me, who hurt me.
 
It is so important to take the time to be quiet before you, Lord, to listen to you, to get your perspective. Help me to remember that you are the measure, I am the follower, that I must submit my intellect to you Word. Yours is the right to decide, it is mine to obey. If I abide in you, I can be the means of grace, goodness and blessing in the lives of others. May I be so today!
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Psalm 4:3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 25, 2017
Psalm 4:3 “Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;”
 
[This is a most wonderful, mysterious statement. You have set your children apart for yourself, and did it long before you made us godly in Christ—you knew what was to come, that we would respond to your call, that we would believe and be brought into your family–and you prepared all for it. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29a).
 
I praise you that you desired to have a relationship with us, that you delight in our being in your family, that you made us godly and continue to move us in that direction.
 
You are such a good God, drawing your enemies in to be your children. You are so kind and gracious, even when we grieve you with unbelief and disobedience. You are loving when anyone else would be impatient, insulted and angry.
 
Praise you that you consistently move us towards being more godly; you chasten us, discipline us, rebuke us, shape us and guide us. You are forgiving, forbearing, forever faithful. We belong to you, we are yours alone and rejoice in this fact.
 
“the LORD will hear when I call to him.”
 
Because I belong to you, you hear and answer, you watch over me, care for me and protect me. You are the mighty LORD, the great I AM, the King of Glory–and yet you are attentive to even the least of your children, giving tender, compassionate, consistent attention.
 
How wonderful! How unbelievable! How marvelous! I praise you, O Lord, for your great grace, your lavish love, your persistent patience, your powerful provision. To you be glory for all that you are doing in our lives. To you be glory for who you are!
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Psalm 4:2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 24, 2017
Psalm 4:2 “How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?”
 
[It is the nature of human beings to worship, and you, Lord God, are the only One worthy of such adoration, honor and obedience.
 
Yet we so often leave your glory to worship the tinsel and lights of this world: shiny new cars, flashy new electronics, exciting sports events, absorbing work, stimulating relationships, a focus on food, the slippery slope of sensuality, or the latest electrifying entertainment.
 
The wrongness in this is that we seek our fulfillment, our excitement, our security, our significance in these things. We worship them as our idols, meaning we demand these things to be happy. I get so absorbed in a project that I will snap at anyone who interrupts me. I focus on the feeling of accomplishment, not on my fellow followers.
 
In seeking elsewhere for what only you can give, we turn our backs on you, shaming you, who are the Creator and Source of all, the Provider of the possibility of these momentary pleasures. We willfully forget that it is you alone who are Eternal, it is you alone who are Almighty, it is you alone who hold time in your hand, who sets up and takes down kings, who breathes out stars and fills the heavens.
 
You alone are the glorious One to be worshiped, adored, exalted and obeyed, yet we let the momentum of the moment divert us away from your majesty to focus on the microscopic. Forgive us, Lord, lift our eyes to your greatness and free us from our idol worship.]
 
“Selah”
 
[which can mean, “Think on this.” Lord, to think on you, to lift up your name, to look on your glory–this is the purpose for which we were created. But in our twisted state, even as believers, we turn from you to the physical world for our gratification, strength and significance.
 
Forgive us for our rebellion against Truth, for our rejection of your Reality, for our regression to idols, for our repetition of Israel’s sins, for our return to the repulsive ways of our natural selves. It is the nature of our fallenness to worship what makes us happy, instead of you, who desires to give us all joy and peace, you who are the actual source of all goodness, righteousness and truth.
 
Help us to deny self, to let go of our natural tendencies, to hold on to you and fall at your feet in obedience and worship. Help us to live in praise for your great faithfulness and love, whether we are in pleasure or pain, goodness or grief, happiness or heaviness.
Glorify yourself in our lives today, Lord. We bow before you as your unworthy servants, as your redeemed and beloved children, as your dearly loved family. May the meditations of our hearts and the words of our mouths be pleasing in your sight today, O Lord, our mighty Rock and Redeemer.]
 
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Psalm 4:1b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 21, 2017
 
Psalm 4:1b “…be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”
 
[Praise you, O Triune God–Loving Father, Powerful Jesus, Holy Spirit–that you are merciful. My being alive here on earth is evidence of your mercy: you have a right and obligation in your holiness to punish every sinner, and could do it at any moment, sending us to hell right now. However, you chose to wait, to secure forgiveness in mercy, then to work in every heart to draw to yourself those who were willing to turn and have the veil removed, the condemnation resolved and our rebellion relinquished.
 
You, Lord, are merciful, and you do hear prayer: “He fulfills the desires of those who fear him. He hears their cry and rescues them” (Psa.145:19). “In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me“ (Psa. 86:7).
 
You fill the universe, you are everywhere at once, so you can see and hear each person. And you are capable of hearing the prayers of billions all at the same time, while you have endless resources with which to answer: “Out of your glorious riches strengthen us with power through your Spirit in our inner being….” (Eph 3:16).
 
When I call to you, you are there, you listen and you answer. Praise you for the times we have to wait, knowing that you have actually answered before we called, and that the manifestation of your answer will come at the right time in the right way, whether it be now, later or after we die.
 
We can praise you for the answer before we see it, knowing that you are faithfulness itself: faithful to all your promises and loving towards all you have made (Psa. 145:9). You are the God worthy of worship, of trust and praise in the midst of our difficulties, suffering, troubles and persecutions.
Lord God, help us to live in the light of your presence and to exalt in the beauty of your faithfulness long before we can see the answers to our prayers. Help us to praise you, the faithful One, who will answer out of your righteousness, your love, your mercy; who answers for the sake of your glory, your name, your good desires.
 
I praise you now, for what you are going to do today: the events you will allow, the positives as well as the disappointments, the difficulties and the downers, for these valleys are death to self and bring growth to your children. I pray that, in the power of your Spirit, my thoughts, motives, words and actions will bring joy to your heart today, my Lord and Savior!
 
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Psalm 4:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 20, 2017
 
Psalm 4:1 “Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.”
 
[Praise you, O Lord God, that you are righteous: sinless, pure, without fault, full of good motives and faithful. You only do what is right, you never fail at it. You are the light shining in my darkness, bringing beauty of each storm. You are a wonder, a marvel, amazing, the paragon of goodness, the epitome of love, the pinnacle of mercy. Therefore you are absolutely trustable.
 
I praise you that you answered my original prayer for help–that you reached down and–in spite of what I am in my sin and rebellion–drew me to yourself to make me your child. You wanted me, you bought me. Now you delight in me and rejoice in your relationship with me, ever giving me the opposite of what I deserve. This is beyond human understanding, showing the beauty of your grace-filled heart.]
 
“Give me relief from my distress;”
 
[You, Lord Jesus, in your power, your wisdom, your creativity are able to bring relief in the right way at the right time, for you exist outside of time and are the Master of all.
 
You know how long to leave us in distress to bring growth and deepening, to teach and equip, to strengthen and train. You know how much pain and suffering I have at the moment and you give all the grace I need to move through it.
 
In fact, you gave grace even before the distress started, more than enough grace to be prepared, to endure, to pass through with power. You enable me to embrace and utilize what may superficially appear be only the attack of the enemy, but is actually a gift from your hand. I must wholeheartedly move into this opportunity with your grace and with praise, to embrace it with obedience, and emerge from it with glory for you, empowered as better and stronger. And with your power, grace and help this is possible!
 
You have made yourself my God and I bow before you in thankfulness. Help me to join you in what you are doing in this distress by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving at each point of pain, that you may be honored before all around me.
 
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Psalm 3:7,8

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 18, 2017
Psalm 3:7 “Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.”
 
[David’s call was desperate, he needed help now. He knew that you, Lord, were completely capable of bringing down his enemies, and wanted you to act right away. And, as we know from the story in 2 Samuel 17 and 18, you did so, bringing defeat to Absalom’s forces.
 
Although David said “all my enemies,” he did not really want you to bring down of his son, and mourned his death greatly.
 
You answered, but he did not like the answer: you allowed that Absalom would get his hair caught in the tree, that Abner would be the one told about this and then go and kill him. Absalom had been pardoned before and had proved himself unworthy of trust. So it would have been all over again if he had lived–and you prevented that. You know what is best, so we must trust you in whatever answer you choose to give.]
 
Psalm 3:8 “From the LORD comes deliverance.”
 
[From you alone, Lord, by you alone, for your glory alone comes deliverance. “He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him…” (Ps.145, 19,20a).
 
We must look to you, LORD, the great I AM, the King of glory, the Lord of all, for deliverance, not to people, to our own efforts or some other source. Forgive me for looking first elsewhere for help–to medicine, to friends, to influential people, to money–before coming to you. You may use these to help me, but I must first come to you.
 
You are the Source of all good, the Creator of all existence, the Sustainer of all life. Praise be to you that you are the answer and the Answerer; you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Help me to keep you as the focus of my existence!]
 
“May your blessing be on your people.”
 
[You are the One true source of blessing—genuine happiness and true joy come only from you—all other sources are temporary and many are destructive, addictive. With you, however, is the fullness of joy combined with the freedom to live in ever growing obedience to Truth.
 
You are worthy of worship and I give you honor, praise and glory now; I give you obedience, respect and joy. May you be glorified and honored in this day in me and before me. Bless me with reminders to check in with you at each juncture for your direction and wisdom that I may join you in what you are doing.]
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Psalm 3:6

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 17, 2017
Psalm 3:6 “I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.”
 
[For David this was a physical fact: Absalom came with a large army with all the advantage. But in this crisis David was thinking about you, Lord: the Majestic, Mighty, Powerful, Undefeated, Unconquerable, Eternal Lord of Hosts. You are strong beyond imagination, you command the armies of Heaven, you can end everything in an instant, you work to weave all into your plan. Therefore David did not give in to fear.
 
Praise you that for us, too, in the battle that is more against spiritual forces than physical ones, you are there, giving us support and grace, your presence and your protection. These we experience every day: in the timing of things, in provision of needs and in protection—all the perfect working of your hand in our lives.
 
So as we daily face the unseen but real forces of hell, who love evil, who have not one gram of goodness, who desire to destroy and are constantly at work to tear down all positives–we can rest in you.
 
As we cry out to you, you are at work, you have already defeated this enemy and are calling us to participate with you in the cleanup operation here on earth. We do this by keeping on your armor, fighting with praise, prayer and persistence in doing what we know to be right.
 
At the same time, on the level of what can be seen, the world now faces a growing horde of terrorists, eager to conquer and rule all the earth; in this, too, we need not fear. You are moving history to a conclusion and taking us with you. You are our Rock, our King, our Lord, our Ruler and we can trust in you no matter what storms come into our lives.]
 
 
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From the devotional book EDIFIED!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 16, 2017
From the devotional book EDIFIED!
 
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 91:1
 
This verse expresses a powerful biblical worldview: that is, he who sees God as the Most High Authority will obey God rather than his own culture or the pressures of society or the people around him or his own desires.
 
He who has this worldview understands that our God is the Most High in Power, in Wisdom, in Knowledge, in Ability, in Grace and in Love. Therefore he chooses to dwell in the shelter the Most High God has given: the protection of Christ’s blood, the commands, guidance and principles of the Word, the direction of the Spirit in line with the Word, and the wise, godly input of mature believers.
 
When we choose to obey the Most High rather than the god of culture or comfort or convenience, we can rest in the shadow of the Almighty, trusting Him to protect us from what is truly harmful. If we don’t dwell in His shelter, we wander off the path of His protection into the attractive fields of the world where Satan is free to attack us.
 
Our God is able to protect us because He is Almighty in power, there is no one greater than Him–He is undefeated and undefeatable. By His strong right arm He created all. By His strong Son He provided redemption for all who will believe.
 
If we have such a biblical view of God, we can say, “The Lord is my refuge [from all that the flesh offers to give me and all the grief that comes my way in a sinful world], my fortress [from the attacks of the world, the flesh and the devil], my God [my highest authority, the One I love and obey], in Him will I trust. [rather than in my own cultural understanding; therefore I submit myself, my intellect and my day to His wisdom and Word, praising Him in and for all]” (Ps 91:2).
 
Prayer: “Lord help me to nurture a biblical worldview of who you are, so I will choose the Creator over the created, choose you over what your creatures have thought up. You, Lord God are the One who deserves my obedience, my praise, my worship. I exalt you, the great I AM, the Most High over all, the Beginner and Ender of time. To you be honor and glory throughout my day today. Amen.”
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Psalm 3:4,5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 15, 2017
 
Psalm 3:4 “To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.”
 
[This is not “answered,” but “answers,” meaning all the time. You are the listening, answering God, all-present, all-seeing, all-knowing. In your faithfulness you are always there, you always answer as you see fit, in your time, as you always know what is best.
 
When trouble comes, you give the grace to go through it. In fleeing from his traitorous son, Absalom, David arrived at his place of safety to find that you, Lord, had arranged true friends who came to supply his needs of food, drink and shelter (2 Sam. 17:27-29). It was there that he wrote this Psalm.
 
During his forced march out of Jerusalem, David was tired, discouraged and cursed by one of his enemies. It didn’t look like much help was being given, but you were there, Lord, at work, preparing everything, doing what was right.
 
So I can have confidence that you will answer in the issues before me, in the dark night of Barbara’s depression, in the uncertainties of our future. I can make a long list of them, and in the process praise you for what you are doing and will do to help and protect me in each one.
 
Selah
 
[I must consistently think about those truths of your faithfulness, power and goodness, Lord choosing to trust in you no matter what.]
 
Psalm 3:5 “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.”
 
[David did just that, even though he knew he would be pursued, he slept and awoke refreshed because you, O Lord, protected and kept him safe in the night.
So it is with us, as you surround us like a wall, you hold back the enemy, you give us rest and keep us safe. I praise you, Lord, and thank you for your goodness and faithfulness. You surely are worthy of our worship and obedience.]
 
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