Wednesday 15th April
Read Psalm 4:2
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 honour be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
The ‘complaint’ on this occasion seems to be focused on verbal attacks on David’s integrity and honour. Possibly The Message paraphrase brings home the reality of the abuse, ‘You rabble—how long do I put up with your scorn? How long will you lust after lies? How long will you live crazed by illusion?’. False accusation and lies are more common than ever as forms of abuse in today’s world of social media and we know that repeated abuse leads to mental illness and anxiety. It would seem David had every reason to be anxious and consequently have restless nights (v8)! In the rest of the psalm David will give us some ideas of what to pray in such circumstances. If you were praying the next verse, what would it be about?
Geoff Hinch
