Speaker: Jerry Cisar

In America, and likely elsewhere, success trumps truth. If asked why they support the leading candidate for one party, most will respond with some version of, “Because he is successful,” as if that needs no further explanation. If asked why they support one of the candidates for the other party most respond with some version of, “Because he/she is going to make my life better.” Both can be boiled down to, “Because that is what I think will make my life more blessed,” or, “…more secure,” or, “…more prosperous.”

This week, we are going to examine Psalm 4. One line in this psalm might make a great # describing the question driving the lives of most Americans. #Whowillbringusprosperity?

Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” (Psalm 4:6)

Whatever the answer to that question is, that is what most want and pursue! It is the outcome that matters. My happiness, my success, the respect I deserve. But this should not be the driving question of our lives, because without fail it will lead to idolatry.

Psalm 4 is given to God’s people to help us pray when we see this brand of idolatry in the church. It teaches us how to resist it and how to pray about it. Although Psalm 4 was written in a world that seems quite removed from our world of fast cars, technology, and bit-coin currency, the way people responded to difficulty was not much different than today.

Handout: http://media.gccc.net/2016/02/20160221.pdf