Monday Morning Meditation on Psalm 4

“Tremble and sin not: examine your own heart upon your bed, and be still” (Psalm 4:4, Geneva Bible).

Why tremble at all? Why examine your own heart? “Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when His wrath shall suddenly burn. Blessed are all that trust in Him” (Psalm 2:11,12).

How does this affect how we live together as the Church? “If so be ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus, that is, that ye cast off, concerning the conversation in time past, that old man, which is corrupt through the deceivable lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, which after God is created unto righteousness, and true holiness. Wherefore cast off lying, and speak every man truth unto his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be angry, but sin not [quoting Psalm 4:4]: let not the sun go down upon your wrath, neither give place to the devil...let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths: but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God [quoting Isaiah 63:10], by Whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and anger, and wrath, crying, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all maliciousness. Be ye courteous one to another, and tender hearted, freely forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake, freely forgave you” (Ephesians 4:21-27,30-32).

Thank You, Father, for fulfilling Your promise to the Son in forgiving us in Him, and for predestining us to be conformed to the image of the Son (Romans 8:29). Thank You, Son of God, for being a great God and King above all, alone worthy of our fear, love, and faith. Thank You, Holy Spirit of God, for sealing us for the day of redemption and for being grieved when we resist each other – and in so doing resist Your building of Your Church (Ephesians 2:18-22). Blessed and holy Trinity, help us to tremble before You, realizing that we ourselves as individuals are usually the problem in Your Church. Holy Spirit, remind us always to exalt the Father’s forgiveness through the Son in our membership together in Your Church.

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By the way, I'm not angry at anyone in the Church this groggy Monday morning. This is where the Psalm reading had me as I huddled over a cup of coffee, though, and we come to the Word to be taught...often before we even need the lesson, if we're willing to hear. Coming to the Bible with our "felt needs" and not to be taught sometimes means we walk a lot of spiritual miles on the Way a few steps behind! Learn from the Holy Spirit today as He speaks through His Word to teach us about conformity to the Son. Learn the lesson before the lesson becomes the crisis with your brother or sister!

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Alright: the original title for this post was "Shaking (Not the Harlem Variety)." I've changed it so no one thinks I'm being critical of the "Harlem Shake" fun that's currently going on. I sincerely was not criticizing or making fun of the fun or anyone having the fun...was just participating in it in my own silly way with the pun in the title (Psalm 4:4 on trembling and "Harlem Shake"...get it?!?!?! Can I get a "LOL"?!?!?!). No "Harlem Shaking" was harmed in the making of this post! I have, for the sake of not offending or get labeled a "Harlem Shake hater," given this post the current innocuous and boring re-name. Happy Monday to you!

But you have to admit it: "Shaking (Not the Harlem Variety)" is a much better post-title for a Monday morning meditation on Psalm 4!!