When I first read the verses we will examine today, I audibly spoke out (even though I was alone), “Man, what a great text”!!! The shear Truth found in the Word of God does that to me occasionally. David first speaks to God in request, then to man(kind) in rebuke, and then maybe even to himself in challenge? Let’s take a deeper look at this great text together!!!

[Psalm 4.1-5]

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What do you make of David’s prayer in v. 1? Is there something here for us to model? One commentator I read said “Often power in prayer is lacking because there is little passion in prayer” What do you think of that statement? How would you describe your prayer life? What can you do to improve it and how can we make our prayers more passionate and powerful?

+ Describe examples of “turning honor into shame” and “loving vain words and seeking after lies” both in David’s day and in today’s world. How was David so sure “the Lord hears when I call to Him”? Are you that sure? Why or why not?

+ Describe an example of “being angry and not sinning” both in David’s day and in today’s world. Other Biblical translations use the word “meditate” instead of “ponder” in v. 4. How would you define Christian meditation and how does it differ from the way those outside the faith use it? What are “right sacrifices” mentioned in v. 5? Read Psalm 50.23, Psalm 51.17, Proverbs 21.3, Mark 12.33, Romans 12.1, and Hebrews 13.15

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Honestly, I have always struggled with the concept of prayer. My mind always goes to “God is sovereign, so no real NEED for me to pray”. This may be true if your prayer life only consists of asking God for favors!!! However, I can’t escape the overwhelming number of examples of the followers of God praying found in Scripture, most noticeably Jesus Himself, so there MUST be something to it. There is!!!

God wants to deepen our relationship with Him. What loving parent doesn’t want to communicate with their child?
God chose three main ways to reveal Himself to us; through His Word, through other believers and through prayer!!!
Prayer is a discipline we are commanded to do by Jesus Himself.

Lord, forgive us for taking for granted the access to communicate with You through prayer. Jesus was a person of prayer and so we should be as well. Thank You for indwelling us with the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us even when we don’t know what to say (Romans 8.26-27). Continue to teach us to pray well. Amen

[Matthew 6:5-13.5]

6.5 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

+ All Christians…should be confident that God will hear their prayers. When prayer seems ineffective, it is worth it to take a spiritual inventory to see if there is a reason for unanswered prayer. The Bible tells us there are several possible reasons why prayer may not be answered.

- Not abiding in Jesus (John 15.7)

- Unbelief (Matthew 17.20-21)

- Failure to fast (Matthew 17.21)

- A Bad marriage relationship (1 Peter 3.7)

- Unconfessed sin (James 5.16)

- Lying and deceitfulness (Psalm 17.1)

- Lack of Bible reading and Bible teaching (Proverbs 28.9)

- Trusting in the length or form of prayer (Matthew 6.7)

David Gusik, 2008, Commentary on the Psalms

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?