Devotion: Luther on psalm 4

Invocation
In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Psalm 4

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!

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

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

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.


In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.


Martin Luther on Psalm 4

Psalm 4 is a Psalm of comfort, and at the same time a Psalm of prayer and instruction that teaches us to trust in God when things go wrong. It rebukes the ungodly, who concerns themselves over vain goods and fleshly comfort, yet will not bear to wait confidently for God, who is the highest comfort. God surprises us in how He deals with His saints. At first, He abandons them and tries their faith and patience. On the other hand are the ungodly who want to have a full and secure belly. If anyone talks to them about faith and patience, they mock and despise Him and say, ‘Can this fool tell us what is good? Yes, you be patient until a roast chicken flies into your mouth. Trust in that and you will starve.’

This psalm belongs to the First Commandment. It teaches and urges us to hope in God and endure hardship and every need with patience, and it rebukes the faithless and impatient. Psalm 4 is included in the Third and Seventh Petitions [of the Lord’s Prayer], in which we pray that God’s will be done and that we be delivered from evil. It can also be in the Fourth Petition, when we ask for daily bread, that is, for peace and all necessities of life in the face of every earthly need.


Collect

O God, our merciful Father in heaven, fill our hearts with patience under the cross, strengthen our faith, and so govern us that we give offense to none, neither in word nor deed. Grant us also this day all that we need for body and soul. Amen.