verticallife

“Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?” Psalm 4:1-2

Just a little reminder: David was a husband, a father, a commander-king. As all kings did, they listened and gave their judgments when people came to them to act on their behalf. He was a pretty busy man. There were battles to be fought, and decisions to be made.

Sometimes those responsibilities caused much stress… and distress. When we read his words, he was facing the reality and pressures of every day life – as a family man and as a leader.

Distress. Great pain. Anxiety. Sorrow. Acute mental suffering. Affliction. Trouble.

 As he faced his fears and piloted his way through pain, he knew he had a God who would hear him in his trouble. These were not just words of an ideological man. In the past when he called out to God, God did give him relief from the stresses of life. When he wrote, he penned these passages from his past experiences. He wasn’t simply hoping God would act. He knew He would. “The LORD will hear when I call to him.” He will. He does. Then David added something Paul would later quote: “In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah” (Psalm 4:3-4)

PAUSEselah: David teaches us to “offer the right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.” While “many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’, Pray this prayer, “Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:5-8)

O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’ But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.” Psalm 3:1-4O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’ But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.” Psalm 3:1-4

Wouldn’t it be great if we could get along with everyone everyday? There were times when David’s “enemies” were from neighboring countries. At other times his enemies were in his own home.

This was a song David wrote when he was running for his life – running from his son, Absalom. Absalom was a very handsome young man (2 Samuel 14:25). Outward looks were all he had going, though, for inwardly he was devious.

Chapter 15 of Samuel’s second book records his conspiracy. “He stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” (15:6) His conspiracy “gained strength” and his “following kept increasing.” (15:12) When David was told by a messenger that all the men of the city were now following Absalom, David, his family and officials fled.

“David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.” (15:30) It was at this time David wrote the words of this prayer. His hope, his expectation was that God would see his distress and would act on his behalf. (16:12)

No matter what was coming on the horizon, David went vertical. When he was exhausted from running, he “refreshed himself.” (16:14) How do you “refresh yourself” when you get exhausted, when you’re tired from all the running around?

“I cry aloud, and He answers me.” That was David’s response. He voiced his prayers, not under his breathe, but out loud. When was the last time you sat down and had a heart to heart conversation with your Father? You will see a word you may not recognize throughout the Psalms. That word is selah, and it is a musical pause. It occurs three times in this psalm alone. When was the last time you paused? David, out in the wilderness, was forced to pause from all that was going on around him and inside of him.

Though nothing had changed around him, something changed inside him. David was able to sleep. “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.” (Psalm 3:5-6)

Sleep can be the first thing that goes when we worry about what’s happening around us. But when we pause, and speak our concerns out loud to our Father, we find the comfort we need to wake refreshed. Sustained. En-couraged.

Selah. Stop what you are doing right now, and voice out loud what you’re thinking and what you’re feeling. “The Lord sustains me. I will not fear.”

“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.” Psalm 2:1-2

That’s a great question. Why do we rebel? Why do we like doing our own thing, going our own way? Why can’t we just follow instructions? “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” (v3) How many people think that believing in God is simply too restraining? They feel chained. Shackled. Held back. What is God’s response to our rebellion?

“The One enthroned in heaven laughs.” (v4) Did you know that? David wrote how our attempts at living our own way actually brings laughter. That laughter then turns to correction. That’s not necessarily what we want. But it is what we need.

Most children will tell you why parents need to discipline their kids. They will answer how wild kids can get if parents give little direction. The One who said, “You are my son. Today I have become your Father,” (v7) is the Father who wants to guide us and discipline us when He needs to. We must submit to His rulership, His leadership in our lives or our lives will fall to pieces (v9).

Being wise, we need to “serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” (v11) That way we will be “blessed” when we “take refuge in him.” (v12)

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3All of us have goals. Finish school. Get a job. Get married. Have kids. Stay married. I don’t know anyone who would say, “I want to live a life that’s cursed. I don’t care if I‘m fruitful in my work.” Yet, so many people are not living lives that are blessed and fruitful.

Blessed. Abraham was told his life would be blessed so that he would bless others. “You will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2) Jesus taught on certain attitudes that would be blessed (Matthew 5:3-12). You would be blessed if you were merciful to others. Be gentle. Hunger for something deeper than just physical food. Make peace.

Blessed. It means to be divinely or supremely favored. Fortunate. Happy. Content. Good of any kind has been bestowed on you. To bless means to exalt, glorify and magnify.

David wrote how a person who does not walk (conduct his life) in the counsel (the opinions, beliefs, thoughts) of the wicked or stand in the way (path, road) of sinners or sit with mockers will be blessed. Conduct your life in the words of those who desire to live righteous, upright, godly lives of integrity. Stand (place your feet firmly) along the road of those who want to do what’s right. Take a seat with those whose words are uplifting, instead of tearing others down. How much you are blessed depends on where you are walking, where you are standing and where you are sitting.

Fruitful. How fruitful is your life? Are you seeing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) growing in your life? Are you more or less loving? Are you more or less joyful? Are you more or less patient? David seems to believe your fruitfulness will grow as a result of your faithfulness to God’s words.

Kings were instructed to have a copy of God’s words for themselves (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). It kept them from conceit. Joshua was instructed to read God‘s words day and night (Joshua 1:8-9). It helped him face his fears.

If you want to be blessed and productive in life, meditate on (engage in thought or contemplation; reflect on) God’s words. Read them. Stop for a moment. Think about what you read. Reflect on them. Allow them to speak to you, saturate you. You will find how that one act will bless you and make you more fruitful.