But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself

.... him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him. Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.  Selah (Psalm 4:3, 4).  Some of the commentators suggest that David is grieved at the rebellion of his son Absalom, who had raised an army against him, turning his glory (his reputation) into shame (verse 2a). Absalom had openly slept with David's concubines!  In any case David is grieved and asks his enemies “How long will you love worthlessness, and seek falsehood” (verse 2b).  Setting us an example for us for how to act in times of trouble,  David turns to the Lord for comfort, for answers and for help.  He also councils himself with this morning's quote.  He starts with a  “But,” in this case indicating a change of perspective.  When we keep our eyes on what is happening we can get very down. Others had dealt treacherously with David, but David now tells himself to know two things, firstly  that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly, and secondly that He will  hear when he calls.

Over and over it is the difficult times that draw us close to God, at least they have the potential to do that. And it is how we respond that makes the difference.  It is difficult not to get angry at times, but in the next stanza David warns himself not to sin in his anger (verse 4a).  One of the characteristic of the godly (verse 3) is self control (Galatians 5:23). It is part of the fruit of the Spirit and often we need time to grow into these,  as we catch ourselves, sometimes in mid sentence. It happened to me the other day. Sometimes we need to go back and soften a reactive response (been there, done that,  bought the T-shirt)!

Next David councils himself to “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still” (verse 4b). There is a sense that obsessive thinking (stinking thinking) is meditation where we go over and over things in our mind.  But this is not the kind of meditation David is thinking about, it is about being still, knowing He is God (Psalm 46:10), and coming into His perspective, rehearsing His promises, allowing Him in the intimacy of that, to put gladness in your heart (verse 7). Then knowing that when you have worked through that you “will both lie down in peace, and sleep,” and turning to prayer declare that this is because “You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (verse 8).  By the way, though “Selah” occurs over seventy times, no one seems to know what it means. It is thought to be something musical!

Father, when we are walking in obedience then, like David we know that You will hear us when we call to You (verse 3b). It is sometime hard to understand Lord why You allow what you allow, but we will choose to trust and even praise You this morning, and with Your help we will turn our distress into praise. And we will give You the glory in Jesus Name Amen