Psalm 4
Preaching
A Journey Through the Psalms: Reflections for Worried Hearts and Troubled Times
Preaching the Psalms Cycles A, B, C
A great piece of advice was once offered by a sage, elder pastor. "It's okay," he said, "even necessary, to acknowledge our feelings and to work through them. But it is unwise, especially when we are angry or upset, to act out of those emotions." This one hits close to home. Over more than two decades in the pastorate, this writer has witnessed the destruction and even death caused by people who have made decisions or taken actions when they are in the throes of anger or beset by depression.
"When you are disturbed, do not sin" (v. 4).
There are many times in the course of our days that we find ourselves caught in the snares of anger. There are times, too, when the dark sides of our souls hold sway and we are caught in the maze of depression. Not to be flip, but this is life. The trick, for so many of us, is not so much to avoid these circumstances, but to be able to navigate the shoals of our emotional landscape without hurting ourselves or others in the process. In other words, we need to learn not to sin when we are "disturbed."
The writer of this psalm seems to have stumbled upon something here. He is clearly disturbed. But he turns to a God who cuts him some slack. "You gave me room when I was in distress." God is a good place for us to go when life seizes us in this way. If we must rail against our fate, shake our fists in anger, then God -- it seems -- can take it.
"God is a shield for all those who take refuge in him" (2 Samuel 22:31). The old Luther hymn comes to mind here. "A mighty fortress is our God...." In a time when people are widely encouraged to let it all out, it can be easy to lose track of the need for self-control and restraint. Indeed, it's possible to work through feelings in a healthy way without spewing the baggage of those emotions on unsuspecting and innocent bystanders. And for us, this avenue lies in taking our anger, our depression, our "disturbed" hearts to God. In prayer, in discernment, in quiet time with our Savior, it is possible to sort out the storms that beset our hearts. In the quiet space we take to be alone with God, we can separate out our feelings from the decisions we make and the actions we take.
Will we still need the help of our pastors, of therapists, and of other people whose work is centered in helping us in these arenas? Certainly. But do we need God in these moments as well? Absolutely. Perhaps, as we move through the rocky paths that come to us on our journey, we will learn how to reach for God while we seek the help we need from those God has placed in our path.
"When you are disturbed, do not sin" (v. 4).
There are many times in the course of our days that we find ourselves caught in the snares of anger. There are times, too, when the dark sides of our souls hold sway and we are caught in the maze of depression. Not to be flip, but this is life. The trick, for so many of us, is not so much to avoid these circumstances, but to be able to navigate the shoals of our emotional landscape without hurting ourselves or others in the process. In other words, we need to learn not to sin when we are "disturbed."
The writer of this psalm seems to have stumbled upon something here. He is clearly disturbed. But he turns to a God who cuts him some slack. "You gave me room when I was in distress." God is a good place for us to go when life seizes us in this way. If we must rail against our fate, shake our fists in anger, then God -- it seems -- can take it.
"God is a shield for all those who take refuge in him" (2 Samuel 22:31). The old Luther hymn comes to mind here. "A mighty fortress is our God...." In a time when people are widely encouraged to let it all out, it can be easy to lose track of the need for self-control and restraint. Indeed, it's possible to work through feelings in a healthy way without spewing the baggage of those emotions on unsuspecting and innocent bystanders. And for us, this avenue lies in taking our anger, our depression, our "disturbed" hearts to God. In prayer, in discernment, in quiet time with our Savior, it is possible to sort out the storms that beset our hearts. In the quiet space we take to be alone with God, we can separate out our feelings from the decisions we make and the actions we take.
Will we still need the help of our pastors, of therapists, and of other people whose work is centered in helping us in these arenas? Certainly. But do we need God in these moments as well? Absolutely. Perhaps, as we move through the rocky paths that come to us on our journey, we will learn how to reach for God while we seek the help we need from those God has placed in our path.
