For the Joy Set Before Us, We’ll Carry the Cross!
The Greater Joy Set Before us!
Psalm 4

† In. Jesus Name †

May the grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ convince you to focus on that upcoming greater joy, and the hope it brings!

• The Illusion of “Better times”

The Psalm writer asks, “Who will show us better times?” which caused my mind to spin in two different ways.

One was to think – that question is at the heart of our culture today. That seems to be all we are after – a better time, one with less stress, less problems, more vacations and time to just “enjoy” life.

The other is walking down the strip in Las Vegas, where as you walk down the street, every casino’s lights cry for attention promising better times, and even some there offering a “good time.”

Of course, most of us know winning big in Vegas is as likely as me getting to be the president of the United States or the starting quarterback for the Rams, but we love the illusion, the idea that this could happen to me.. this time.

But most marketing works that way, whether for a political candidate or for a man’s body wash. I mean, will I really get 10 beautiful young ladies in bikinis chasing after me if I use Old Spice rather than Irish Spring?  (And why would I want that – anyway?)

There is no doubt we were meant to experience joy, but that joy isn’t dependent on greater times… which is why the psalmist can say, “You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.”

Real joy is foundational to our lives, it doesn’t depend on our circumstances…. But that is a hard lesson to learn, even as we learn it doesn’t require better times.

• Why Does Our Reputation Matter?

I think my dad and some of his friends would appreciate the next section, or at least the way the Psalmist’s prayer begins,

¹  Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. ²  How long will you people ruin my reputation? How long will you make groundless accusations? How long will you continue your lies? Psalm 4:1-2

You see, reputation meant a lot to my dad and some of his friends, especially if they have served in the Marine Corps, or a part of the U.S. Navy that served alongside the Corp, as my dad and other corpsman did in the Korean War. For someone to try and damage another man’s reputation, or the Marine Corps’ reputation  was the lowest thing you could do.

So I could see him resonating with this prayer, especially if he was highly frustrated and felt like correcting the situation beyond his ability. I can hear his version of it, quite clearly,

God – come and help now and free me from these people! All they want to do is destroy the reputation I have worked to hard to gain, and they do is accuse me of horrible things and lie about me! They need to stop breaking the 8^th commandment – Lord – go get im!

We need to remember that not all the prayers in Psalms are examples of great prayers! They are truly what we may feel, and may be the deepest cries of our hearts, but they, like this one, they might be more self centered, more concerned with creating the illusion of the better life, than in revealing the brokenness that Jesus will heal.

• You are set apart

God responds with patience and love, but in a way that ensures the Psalmist knows his error,

³  You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him. ⁴  Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.

Far too often, the reaction to our reputation being attacked is one of anger, or simply a counterpunch to damage the other’s reputation.

The only way to overcome the emotional barrage, the reaction that seeks revenge and a removal of all troubles is to look at what God sets us apart for—a relationship with Him, that means that even though personally attacked, we are aware that God is our refuge and peace.

Then, rather than react, we can pray about it and be patient, silently knowing that God has it all under His control. That is the faith we are given, that God set us apart – that He makes us holy, for Himself.

And that patience and willingness to love, even though ridiculed and scorned becomes part of who we are, as we realize our unity with the death and resurrection of Jesus.

We don’t have to worry about our reputation, for we already saw that “God declares us innocent”, and we don’t have to search for better times, knowing eternity is coming, and that give  us greater joy than anything else

And I can sleep!

So confident we become of God being our refuge that the last verse can become true,

⁸  In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.

For He is our God, who hears, and sets before us a joy of dwelling eternally in His presence. AMEN!