May 15 Daily Devotional

Be Not Afraid: A Meditation on the Fourth Psalm

Psalm 4

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Devotional

Fear destroys peace and robs the believer of joy. The children of God have no cause to fear. David of all men might have surrendered himself to sorrow and discouragement. The adverse judgments of men and the slanderous reports of his enemies and onetime friends were sufficient to overwhelm a mightier man than he. Yet he was not cast down.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." These evil reports are not sent without His permission, that the soul might lean the more heavily upon Him who is the God of all righteousness. With such a God as the Lord, who is the friend and advocate of His people, why should one be given to tearfulness?

There have been but few truly godly men that have escaped the slander of the world. The history of God's people abounds with examples of men whose only appeal was to heaven. It is a mark of great grace in the soul when it can look away from the wrongful abuse of men and place itself directly in the presence of God and His holy angels. Paul, the apostle, did this when he said, "He that judgeth rne is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." (I Cor. 4:4-5.)

The Weapons Against Fear

The Christian's attitude should be one of constant prayer, but especially should he betake himself to this exercise when hemmed in by the malice of men. This is part of the armor of God which enables him to stand against the wiles of the devil. The enemy only throws his missiles in vain with such a protection. Prayer is the vantage ground of the saint. A clear conscience, one that is void of offence, will give serenity and calm. God will take the side of him who has loved mercy, done justly, and walked humMy with Him, and in this fellowship there is repose.

It is true that a man should not put his own righteousness before God, for the cleanness of man is filthiness before God, yet for God's honor, and not man's, it is proper to present to God what He has Himself wrought" a well-assured conscience. This plea of a good conscience is often made by the servants of God in Holy Scripture. Paul before Felix said, "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." This even gave him cause for great rejoicing as he says in another place, "For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world." (II Cor. 1:12).

A man cannot expect freedom from a troubled mind if his ways have not been according to the commandment of God. On the other hand, the world is no match for him who has called upon God to defend his integrity.

(to be continued)