Lasting Peace in God’s Joyful Presence
Notes
Transcript
Dear Bonnie, and Evelyn, Linda, Annette, and John, family here, and family in Holland, brothers Tiet & Teus
With thankfulness we have looked back and honoured your Dad, husband, your brother, our friend and fellow church member. We have like David was doing in this prayer and song for God’s people, we recall many of the distresses and the delights of this earthly life and pilgrimage. Many a time you could sit across from from John’s lazy boy - and he would tell stories of his childhood he loved to go back, but he also wouldn't hesitate to talk of brain tumor his dad had, and how when no food n o money had to rely on neighbours help. He could talk freely of the times on family holiday - Jeddy and the kids . HE would talk with such delight of more recent trips with kids to Holland, and boy oh boy with Bonnie. One moment hearing the trials and triumphs of the traveling grocery business and the next Simcoe County Carpets. John like King David lived a long and full life. But in the last years, the year I knew him - so much time to reflect. - not on his bed, but in his easy boy watching Essa road. Time to reflect like many of us haven’t had - near death in Newmarket - time often to wonder have I been good enough, real struggles of what comes next for me, what is life all about in the end. David had so many of those moments too. Like any family and life - times of conflict - not knowing what to do - and it was in such a moment that David penned this Psalm, and not just for Himself, not just for a person in John's experience. But this Psalm written in the middle of struggle, was written for the CHOIRMASTER - written for us to make sense of the struggle conflict, the passing delights and distresses.
And David has three instruction for us as we all, like John have to get beyond the passing distress and delights to what life is all about in the end!
KEY TRUTH: Beyond the passing distresses & delights of this world, there is a forever joy & a peace that we can only find in the LORD!
The first instruction is the shortest in v.1. And it is so simple, yet when we are fretting over our trials and many engagements something hard to do!
A. Call out to God, remembering who He is and Believing He Has Grace!
Do you remember John calling out like this at those times in the hospital. Times when dark kind of depression. He would turn to the Word, He would pray. Challenged him when tough, just do it aloud.
Well, David, either in time of family trouble with his son Absalom, or in a time of famine when everyone was in dire straits and David was an easy target as king. He was in a dark time, and though he prayed the trial and circumstances didn’t change, Yet David chose to call out in his darkness and believe God would send relief!
We in the face of death separation called to do the same from the foot of the grave today. But to whom do we call? David tempted to pray to other gods of the nations, idol gods, manipulated. Ever scene Norse gods, like in the movie Thor - capricious, change their minds, scheming and plotting gods.
But look at the God David called out too - God of my righteousness, literally My Righteous God. Not like other made up gods of human myths and imaginations. gods made in our image. But God of righteousness, not just Supreme holy, perfect, morally - but 100% faithful, loyal the big word - is God of relationships - covenanted to be loyal, absolute faithful to all He pledges to be! World wouldn’t be here, didn’t uphold, wouldn’t have breathe, sustainer of all.
But look at the last part of this prayer. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. Biggest decision of your dad’s life spiritually - can God accept me - looks at my record my sin, my doubt -
As if like Egyptian God Ra - weighing my soul in the balance how is it going to come out! But even though in distress, troubles in relationship, even though suffering and others wronged him.
David didn’t become sour to God, didn’t give up hope in him, understood based on God’s record in the past - based on God’s record in providing mercy and grace - he could have standing, he could call himself a child of God - reconciled!
This is the first thing we must do in our grief - not try to reconcile and fix things with each other, not focus on this moment of sadness, but call out to the God who is bigger than any troubles, sufferings, darkness or death - Call out believing - he has grace stronger than it all, stronger than even death!
God be gracious to us!
But then the second instruction comes.
B. Take David’s Advice and Turn from All Vanity so You Lean into What is Lasting
David does address the conflict, suffering, and all these people who who were so focused on hard times, and the most surprising thing is that David doesn’t say God blast them they deserve it. He was really hurt, he was rally wronged, but instead of getting even, in a forgiving spirit he gives them godly advice. And I don’t think he did so in person, just like John isn’t here to reconcile all the problems deal with all the sufferings. But it’s like David, prays for them on his own. Its like he advises them by teaching God’s people.
Those men turning David’s honour to shame. David diagnosis the biggest spiritual problem - Listen to him give the spiritual diagnosis: How long will you love vain words and seek after lies.
What you need to know is that those vain words - vanity, vanity, all is vanity, meaningless meaning less all is meaningless - name for chasing the wind, - meaningless - Like Eccl chase wealth, relationship, work, just simple earthly pleasures - But like MC Jagger and the Rolling Stones - can’t get no satisfaction, more we get in this world, the more empty we feel.
David says the problem is that we are seeking after lies! Bible describes that Satan has the whole world deceived - think just get nice family, or enough money saved to have holidays, just meet Mr or Mrs Right, just get enough success, just get this buzz or pleasure - than everything be alright - lies! Only find rest, only satisfied when we rest in God who made us!
David instructs them and us, Be and do not sin. Literally o be angry, but tremble ponder in your own hearts …
In the face of death we are all to do some mulling over, word is mutter to yourself, work it out - what is the measure of a man's life - all his stuff, all his relationship everything passing away - but now listen not only to the diagnosis, but the prescription!
It comes in V.3 you can be a different person than just running from earthly distresses, and running after earthly success and pleasure.
Psalm 4:3
But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
Don’t be thrown off by the word godly - doesn’t mean a holy roller - doesn’t mean a saintly person compared tot he rest of us. It means one who seeks God. It means one who with integrity in a consistent but not perfect way - lives and loves and relates to people with God!
And what does David says about such a person? that the LORD has set apart that person for himself! WOW!!
There isn’t a perfectly righteousness innocent sufferer among us, whole history of the world . None totally godly, but the Son of God sent for you and Me. Perfect innocent sufferer, not just integrity of faith, but perfect - on the Cross calling out for you - Father don’t do it to them, do it to me, Let me take their suffering, their death and their punishment - And guess what God heard Him and answered Him, so that you and I in Him with perfect godliness can call out, know guaranteed that God will hear and deliver us, even through death!
That’s the gospel - you find grace from God, in Jesus Christ, You repent and follow - and God says, that kind of person - they’re mine -set apart for me! A rare word in the OT - only used of the difference between the Egyptian who got blasted for refusing again and again to stop persecuting and hating and hurting, and the children of Israel - whom God set apart, came into their lives, led them, provided for them saved them!
Isn’t that a great truth David is holding before even his enemies - that he believes in for himself, who had blew it so many times and now was reaping the results of his own sin, in his family problems, and he is in distress - but he turns to the LORD and the Lord hears when such a person calls!
So David instructs all these people. If you turn like that be silent before the LORD, now - wait on Him. And then he gives the instruction that can change everything: Psalm 4:5
Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
Prayer is just a beginning, but all our prayers get us into a new relationship with God, and earn His grace and favour, and eternal life. But David now says, not just pray, but worship and that’s what we’re doing right now. But not just singing some songs and thinking about God in general. What is at the heart of worship? IN OT worship in home, in the field, but on Lord’s Day, - where did they gather - tabernacle, then temple and what was at the heart of the temple. Sacrifice, like from moment Adama and Eve sinned, and God provided a sacrifice.
Do you have a sacrifice - a right one. All the OT ones just a picture , don’t need to bring one, don’t need to offer one for John to get to heaven. Bible says, Jesus was the final sacrifice, but heir is no access to God without - that offering that sacrifice - completely consumed for two reasons - justice meted out, punishment of all sin - Jesus not only enduring punishment of God, but taking whole curse and wrath, and all the death that results from our sin. But the other reasons a burnt offering sacrifice completely consumed was because it was symbol that just like this lamb completely devoted to you - here is my life complete lived according to your ways, completely devoted to you -
John knew he couldn’t do that, you probably know you can’t either - but that’s why God sent His Son - to give you the offering of Himself - he lived perfect life we know we can’t offer to God, and He died the painful and shameful death of Cross - paying the punishment of , paying hell we deserve!
Good Friday was a big deal to your dad, because he knew his only hope was in the work of Christ for him on the Cross! . David says - don’t just pray, but offer that kind of worship, get into that kind of close relationship with the LORD. Put your trust in him!
And then David gives the last instruction about how you and I can then look to the future and say: v.8 I will both lie down and sleep,for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety!
Notice that the lie down to sleep is future. Its not just referring to sleep tonight and peace today, its pointing to the future -when we will have to cross the river of death when we will sleep the sleep of death! Will you be sure that it will be to enter the Lord’s everlasting rest and peace that passes all understanding?
You can only know by what you are receiving from the LORD today in the present. The end of the verse isn’t future - now today -in the middle of my trial, grief, problems distress, in the middle of my business on earth - you make me dwell secure!
How can you have that security with God in life and in death? David teaches us by contrast again. But this is the highlight of the whole Psalm. Everyone in life chasing vanities, enduring present trials and chasing passing delights is left asking: “Who will show us some good?”
At a grave is a good place to ask that question, is this it? Who wins in the end, he who has the most toys? Is that what it s all about is that the only good we can get on earth, just what we earn for ourselves. Oh, who will show me some good, at the brink of the grave. Ask yourself, what good - will I experience, what good will I give to those around me - how will my life be measured at my funeral!
But look how David answers: Psalm 4:6b
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
Do you remember those words: May the Lord Bless you and keep you, may the Lord turn His face toward you and be gracious to you, may the LORD lift his countenance upon you and give you peace!
You know you dad’s countenance, his face when work wasn’t done, when not satisfied, when in huff come on now that’s not good enough. All kind of fear that. But you also know your dad’s twinkle in the eye, looking up through those glasses, told a little joke and he’s waiting for you to get what he said. Shared a memory crack a smile.
Well David is saying, all the tea and China, all the cars in the garage, all the vacations, and latest iPhones, and all the grain and wine that abounds in this world -isn’t worth a thing compared to this one great and lasting reality - God presence in your life - not frowning, not ignoring you, but God in Christ smiling on you!
Who will show us some good - all the good in the world, - good you’ll experience, good you will share, so when at the grave, evaluation your life - say well lived indeed all that good not in stuff of earth - but in that presence of God with you - the kingdom of God which can be within you!
And David, says, you get that, then you will have the only good that ultimately matters, and all the lesser goods find in this world will be sweetened and doubled really enjoyed, and all the sorrow and trial and suffering will be halved. All passing things, why because :v.7a
Psalm 4:7
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Why v.8a In peace I can find true sleep and rest, that the ups and down, sorrow and pain of this life can’t rob me of.
Beyond the passing distresses & delights of this world, there is a forever joy & a peace that we can only find in the LORD!
Joy and peace, message that David wanted us to have from the brink, and a message I believe John would too. Psalm 4:8
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.