(Psalm 4:2) “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.”

This verse has a two-fold interpretation: First, in the immediate text, King David is speaking to the Jews of his day that were supporting Absalom, his son, to replace him as king of Israel. Secondly, it looks forward prophetically to the Jews rejection of the Messiahship of Jesus Christ in the days of Christ on the earth. But for this devotion, the primary focus will be on King David rebuking the Jews of his day that supported his son, Absalom.

In (Ps. 3:2) David pointed out, “Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. Selah.” David’s enemies said that God would not help King David in his time of trouble. This is exactly what the enemies of the children of God are saying in the 21^st Century in the times of trouble for them. The battle for the child of God when trouble comes is not only from within concerning the haunting of the old man, living in the child of God, saying ‘God will not help you now; you have gone too far’ – but, also, from the doubters and nay-sayers of God’s Word of Promise, who say, ‘Now you will see that God is not your God.’

The enemies of David continue in (Ps. 4:2) as indicated by what David said of them, “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.” David posed two questions:

First (Ps. 4:2a) “O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame?” David said, ‘How long will you try to discredit my position as king, since it was God that had the prophet Samuel to anoint me when I was but a shepherd? How long will you try to shame me, since you know that God has been with me to slay Goliath and the many enemies of Israel?’

The same can be said today of the faithful child of God when the enemies of the cross try to shame or discredit the position of the believer in Christ, the power of Christ manifested in the daily life of the believer, and the preeminence of the blessings in the believer’s life. The believer’s “glory” is the “honor” and “preeminence” of Christ living and abiding in the believer. The blessings and the victory in the believer’s life flows from Christ, and not from himself. Christ is the believer’s beauty and success. The choice, the call, and the conversion of the believer has God as the Origin, the Cause, and the Applicator of grace, mercy and love in the believer. The believer’s position in grace is from God’s choice. The believer’s practice is in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the Fruit that the believer bears is from the Seed Himself, Jesus Christ, living and abiding in the believer. The Authority of the believer to be “in Christ,” and to receive the blessings of Christ, is from God and not from man. Man has no right, even no power, to remove the child of grace from his position as a son of God.

So, the answer to David’s question to his enemies is:

(Rom 8:31-33) “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (32)  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33)  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”

Secondly (Ps. 4:2b) “…how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.”

David first said, ‘How long will ye love vanity (or foolishness)? How long will you set yourself against the Plan and Purpose of God?’  Secondly, ‘How long will you seek after “leasing” (or lies)?’ Some of King David’s closest advisors were led astray by Absalom (2 Sam. 15:12).

It is always a shock to believers when they find out that their enemies many times are the closest people to them. But, when this happens, it the responsibility of the believer to exhort his enemies to see that they are in love with vanity (foolishness), and are seeking after “leasing” (lies). The message to the enemies should be as was David’s defence:

1. First, “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself” (Psa 4:3a). The believer first must state the truth, “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself.” The enemies of the cross must understand that it is God that has “set apart” His children, and not the other way around. The key in this phrase is “for himself.” Men of all ages have had to learn the hard way, you cannot topple God; nor thwart His Plan and Purpose (Pro. 19:21; Job 23:13-14). Christ loves His children; and has been, and shall always be, the Father of His children, their Provider, and their Protector; even their All in all.
2. Secondly, King David said, “the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” (Psa 4:3b).  The enemies of the cross need to know that God will hear and answer His children when they call upon Him. God has given the promises of access and audience and answer to His Children in time of need (Heb. 4:16; Jn. 15:7). God will not and cannot deny His own Promises.
3. “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah” (Psa 4:4).David said, ‘What you are doing is a sin. Go to bed, or separate yourself from everything, and look inside of yourself; consider what you are saying and doing against God.’ So should the believer say to the enemies of the cross today. Tell the enemy to “be still” and know that He is God.
4. “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD” (Psa 4:5).David said to the conspirators, ‘Return to the worship of God, and place your trust in the LORD, Whom you know to be Jehovah God. Wake up, and don’t follow the vanity and lies of Absalom or the so-called wise men. Think on your own; do what you know to be truth.’ So it is today, tell those who claim to know God; and who claim to be part of His Body, the Church. Go back to the hour you first believed in Christ. Go back over your life, and see how God has blessed you in trusting God and not man. Look at the past movements of God in your life; and take note that you were blessed exceedingly and abundantly above all that you could ask or think when you fully and faithfully trusted God and His Plan and Purpose.

In closing, How fruitless it is for the enemies of the cross to think they can defeat God and His children? Absalom, and many of the wise men of Israel that were part of the conspiracy against David, failed in their attempt to replace God’s Ordained, God’s Anointed, God’s Plan and Purpose, in replacing David as king of all Israel.

Praise God, the enemy will not, and cannot, defeat God and His family. If God said it; if God did it. No man can stop God in any of His Plans or Purposes. Therefore, child of grace, do not listen to the enemy; for they are deceived; they are liars and are seeking to fulfil the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life. Remember who you are “in Christ.” And remember, it was God that placed you “in Christ” and brought this knowledge to you, “whereby, we cry Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15), in the process of regeneration and conversion (Rom. 8:16). Remind the enemy of the cross that it is not you; but it is God that they fight against.