Wednesday April 28, 2021

Today’s Reading: Psalm 4

 Many are saying, “Who can show us anything good?” Look on us with favor, Lord.

Psalm 4:6

Reflection: The Lord causes His people to live in safety. He answers cries for vindication. He frees those bound by affliction. The Lord hears and answers prayer by His Grace. The faithful can easily spot His Hand at work and declare them. But the Lord’s mighty deeds are not as easily seen by those who do not know Him.

This is why the psalmist asks God to defend not just his physical safety, but also the safety of his reputation. For enemies taunt him, questioning God’s faithfulness to him, testing the desire and ability of the Lord to respond to the psalmist’s pleas. The psalmist wants others – especially those against him – to know of his connection with the Almighty God. The psalmist also wants others to know of God’s goodness and power to help. Every believer’s reputation as one belonging to God is like this. It holds weight in situations of need, for skeptics will always look on to see if the Lord really does exist, or if His people trust in Him in times of distress.

The psalmist prays for God to meet doubt with blessed revelation, that His God would be made known to the lost. And God will always prove faithful in response to these prayers, according to His Will. But are His people faithful in crediting God’s work to Him? Do they show faith when the Lord has not yet revealed His blessed guidance or providence? The psalmist writes, “Many are saying, ‘Who can show us anything good?'” God’s people must be those who point others to true goodness, which is found in Him and all He does.

Prayer: Loving God, You are so good. You are the One Who has freed me from affliction. You have have heard my every prayer. You have saved me through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for being so good to me. Thank You for Your boundless Mercy and Faithfulness. Please, Lord, help me to credit every work of goodness to You. Help me point to You by trusting and obeying Your Will. May others know of Your goodness by the way You use me for Your Purpose. I pray of all of these things in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Luke 7:1-17; Genesis 8-10; Psalm 4