Finding The Source Of The Problem

     A few weeks ago I found a small puddle of water on the tiles at the base of our steps in the basement. I thought that one of the boys had spilled his drink so I just ran a towel over it and didn’t give it another thought. Two hours later I passed by the same area to find a much larger puddle of water. I knew there was a problem because the boys had not been back through there in that time and Jackie usually cleans up her spills (kidding!).

     The next hour saw me checking everywhere to find the source of the leak. After pulling up tiles, checking the base of toilets, checking both showers, and checking all the sink pipes, we were able to find that it was a draining issue with the condensation from the air conditioner. Fortunately, it was a very easy fix thanks to a very handy and helpful brother in Christ.  However, without finding the source of that water the problem could never have been remedied.

     The same holds true in our spiritual lives. When a person begins to forsake the assembly, or becomes cold and distant with their brethren, or begins only halfheartedly participating in the worship, or stops praying, or stops contacting the sick, then they are displaying symptoms of spiritual sickness. It doesn’t do much good to work on the symptoms while ignoring the source of the problem. 

     To the church at Ephesus our Lord said, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first…” (Revelation 2:4-5a). To the church at Sardis He said, “I know your works.  You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God” (Revelation 3:1-2). To the church at Laodicea Jesus said, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich…” (Revelation 3:15-18a).

     In each case Jesus pointed to the symptoms to show that a deeper problem existed. The church at Ephesus had left her first love, but how and why had she done that? The brethren in Sardis thought they were a living, active church but Jesus said that they were really dead. How and why had that become the case? The saints in Laodicea thought they were rich and in need of nothing. Jesus said that they were really wretched and poor. How and why were they so wrong in their estimation of themselves?

     Interestingly, Jesus did not really come right out and say, did He? He pointed them to the symptoms that proved the existence of spiritual sickness. He required them to thoroughly search their souls, find the source of their spiritual problems, and fix them through repentance. He requires the same of us. Do we see symptoms of spiritual sickness in our lives (forsaking the assembly, lack of prayer, half hearted participation in worship, coolness to our brethren, very little Bible study, absence of evangelistic effort, etc.)? Let us find the source of the problem and appeal to the Great Physician through humble repentance to be cured.           

Dining Withe Deity

Dining With Deity

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to eat with him and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

      

     I would imagine that most of us have been asked, or have heard others asked, whom they would most like to sit down and have a meal with if the opportunity were made available. I’ve heard people respond by mentioning athletes, movie stars, music stars, authors, presidents, various world leaders, famous activists, and family members who have passed on whom they would love to converse with just once more. How would you answer the question?

   Most Christians would answer that they would choose to dine with Jesus, particularly if the question were asked with several Christians around to hear the answer. How does it make you feel knowing that if asked the same question Jesus would say that He’d most like to dine with you? In fact, He’s ready for that meal to begin right now. Let’s consider how that meal is accomplished in light of Revelation 3:20.

    First, remember that Jesus was speaking to those who were already Christians. However, they were Christians who had lost all zeal and enthusiasm for Christ and had become lukewarm, tepid, in their faith (vs. 15-16). In their case, our Lord was asking to be let back in.

    Second, take care to note that Jesus uses His words to knock on the door of their hearts. What He has to offer He offers to all (Matthew 11:28-30) but only those who hear His words and obey them actually receive it (Romans 10:17; John 14:15). To hear His knocking is to hear His voice. It is to hear and understand the message that He delivers. This means that He must be acknowledged for all that He is. He is our suffering Savior and He is our mighty King. The first cannot be accepted and the second rejected. Kings have authority over their subjects. How much more the King of kings and Lord of lords? 

    Third, do not fail to grasp the significance of the fact that Jesus is not going to loosen the hinges of the door with His pounding and then kick it open. He will not enter the heart that does not welcome Him humbly and meekly. If He comes in it will be because He was been invited. In fact, the Lord’s efforts and the necessary willingness of the saint to open the door provide clear proof of the freedom of the human will to choose or reject the divine call.

    If His words are obeyed and if the heart is opened to Him willingly than He gladly comes inside to sup with the saint. We are told that to the Oriental mind sharing a meal in one’s home signified “close confidence and affection.” This spiritual communion and fellowship with Christ, as wonderful as it is, is but a foretaste of the glory to be shared with Him in eternity.

    If you haven’t done so already, open the door to your heart and let Jesus inside. You do this by hearing His words and obeying Him in humility and selflessness. If you’ve already invited Him in never ask Him to leave. Jesus wants to dine with you. What a glorious thought! 

Applying The Psalms (Psalm 12)

The value of the Lord’s words

“The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”

Psalm 12:6

     Many years ago my family and I travelled to Calgary, Canada where Dad met with a congregation to discuss a possible move. The trip became a sort of working vacation for us. One day we went to the zoo. Once you park you have to walk over a bridge to reach the entrance. Looking down from the bridge at the water beneath offered a truly amazing site. The water, flowing right out of the Rocky Mountains, was so pure and clean that we could see the riverbed itself. As someone who has been around the Ohio River all of his life you can imagine my amazement. It looked as though there couldn’t be more than a foot of water when in reality it was more than ten feet deep. Even then we could see the bottom as clearly as if the surface of the water was a window to everything beneath. To this day when I think of purity I tend to think of the Bow River in Calgary, Canada.

     David said that the words of the Lord are as pure as silver refined in a furnace seven times. This immediately makes me think of the value of God’s Word. If I had walked down to the riverbank with a bowl, filled it with water from the river, and attempted to sell it no one would buy. As clean as it was there wasn’t any real value in it. But suppose I filled my bowl with the purest silver refined seven times to where it gleamed brilliantly? It would not be difficult for me to sell the contents of that bowl for a tremendous price because its contents would be so valuable. Of even greater value than that purified silver are the words of God. After speaking of the law, testimony, precepts, commandments, and rules of the Lord, David says, “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.” (Psalm 19:10)  Later we read, “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and sliver pieces.” (Psalm 119:72). Do you find God’s Word to be this valuable?

     Psalm 12:6 also informs of us of the certainty of God’s Word. Considering the symbolic use of numbers in Hebrew writing we recognize the number seven to be the number of completeness and perfection. David said the words of the Lord are like silver refined seven times. They are perfect, complete, and lacking nothing. There is nothing that man needs to add to God’s Word to make it worthwhile or valuable. Every promise of His will be fulfilled exactly as He has said because He has said. 

     The words of God will lead us directly to Heaven if they are followed correctly. With salvation and a home with Him in eternity as their fruit, what could be more valuable than the words of the Lord?    

Applying the Psalms (Psalm 11)

Fight or Flight?

“In the Lord I rake refuge; how can you say to my soul, ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Psalm 11:1-3

     The situation described in the above verses is frightening, isn’t it? David’s friends and advisor’s stand next to him as they survey the landscape. Things look bleak indeed. If, as many believe, this psalm was written during the time of Saul’s reign when his hatred and jealousy toward David was reaching maniacal levels then it is very easy to see just how dark things appeared to those who had hitched their wagon to David.

     They tell him that it’s time to abandon ship. They tell him to take a lesson from the birds. Birds certainly don’t hang around when troubles approaches, but spread their wings and fly to a place of safety. They tell David to look around him and see the wicked men that are aligning themselves against him. It is as though they already have the bow drawn fully and are cunningly hidden in the dark ready to fire upon him from he knows not where. They would also have David know that he has no reason to expect help to come from within Saul’s government. After all, the foundations of justice have been destroyed through Saul’s poor leadership and single-minded focus on murdering David. Were folks advising David today they might say, “David, your enemies are everywhere and they have their guns loaded with fingers on the trigger. The powers that be, including law enforcement, have grown corrupt and the most powerful man in the nation hates you and wants you dead. The time has come to pack your bags and get out of dodge. Abandon hope for it has certainly abandoned you.”

     Yet David begins this extraordinary psalm by asking his friends how they could advise him to flee? How could they tell him to run away? One might say that the answer seems obvious. However, the one who takes his refuge in God is far more concerned with divine wisdom than conventional. Some problems cannot be bypassed but must be traveled through. David knew that God had plans for him in Israel so he wasn’t leaving. However, there was no way he was getting through this situation without God. So David did what David always seemed to do: he put all of his trust and faith in the One who was infinitely more powerful than Saul and everyone else. He trusted God to be his refuge. May you and I possess such commitment and faith!  

An All-Seeing Eye

“The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence…For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.”

Psalm 11:4-5, 7

     “The Lord is in his holy temple.” How that thought must have comforted David! Reflecting upon that great truth took a situation that seemed impossible to overcome and reminded David that Saul was not ultimately in charge, God was! Saul could rampage and threaten, he could set the entire nation on David, yet God had plans for David that no man could nullify. Saul was not fighting against David, he was fighting against God. 

     Every step that David and Saul made was carefully observed and weighed by God. Every prayer and demonstration of faith from David was noted and considered. Every time Saul cursed David or committed violence in a murderous rage, God was watching. God loved David because of David’s faith. He demonstrated a heart that God approved of, saying that it was even a heart similar to His own (1 Samuel 13:13-14). For that reason God protected him. Yet Saul became as wicked as David was righteous. His jealous, ungodly heart even moved him to commit an atrocious crime by having the priests of the city of Nob along with their families executed (1 Samuel 22:6-23). 

     David stated in verse 5 of our psalm that God tests the children of men. Viewing it through that prism it is easy to see that while David passed this test of faith with flying colors, Saul failed it just as thoroughly. After such a promising beginning Saul transformed into the very thing David reminds us that God hates—a wicked person who falls in love with violence. Sadly, that description pretty well sums up the final years of Saul’s life.

        David concludes this wonderful psalm with a powerful statement of encouragement. I have no doubt that he was reminding himself of God’s great love for righteousness and all His wonderful promises to the faithful. As bad as things appeared to be David was buoyed with the knowledge that his trusting faith would result in seeing the lovely face of God. The same promise stands for you and I.            

Applying The Psalms (Psalm 10)

When God Delays

“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?  Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”

Psalm 10:1

     One of the most difficult times for faithful saints is when trouble strikes and God does not immediately come to our aid. In the case of the psalmist he compared it to God hiding when He was needed most. This becomes especially troubling when evil seems to be entirely unfettered to run rampant, even trampling good people striving to remain faithful to their God. Why doesn’t God destroy all evil right now? Why does God allow wickedness not just to exist, but even prosper?

     History is replete with instances of God sending His terrible “days of the Lord” upon wicked nations and people. Where are the wicked empires of Babylon, Persia, and Rome? They each faced their days of God’s wrath and faded into the dusty annuls of history as a result. Yet many faithful people were forced to suffer tremendously during their wicked, tyrannical reigns. Undoubtedly those hurting souls poured their hearts out before God on a daily basis asking why He permitted such wickedness to exist? Take a moment to read the three short chapters of Habakkuk to see an extraordinarily faithful man discussing these very things with God.

     When God delays there are certain things we need to keep in the forefront of our minds:

1. God, in His unsearchable wisdom, acts in His time (Eccl. 3:11; 1 Timothy 6:15).

2. God’s delays do not mean He has answered “no” to our prayers. 

3. One cannot claim to have lasting faith until that faith has been tested. God’s delays             provide the testing grounds (Hebrews 12:3-7).

4. God loves His children and will never allow them to be tried beyond their ability to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

5. The ultimate reward for perseverance is beyond description (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

     So take heart!  When God acts it is always to the benefit of His people!       

The False Security Of The Wicked

“Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, ‘You will not call to account?’  But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands…”

Psalm 10:13-14

     One would have been hard pressed to find a more favorably situated nation than that of Edom. Their cities were high upon the mountains and nearly impossible to attack (Obadiah 1:3), they were very wealthy (Obadiah 1:6), they had many friends (Obadiah 1:7), they were known for their great wisdom (Obadiah 1:8), and they were mighty in war (Obadiah 1:9). They were also exceedingly wicked (Obadiah 1:10-18). 

     I encourage you to take a moment to consider the verses referenced above. Did you notice how God took every reason for their arrogance and used it against them? None could reach their heights? God would see them brought down. They gloried in their wealth? God would see them pillaged. They boasted in their wisdom? God would remove it. They were confident in their mighty warriors? God would see them dismayed. God ultimately destroyed everything Edom glorified in and felt secure because of. Being brothers to Jacob they undoubtedly knew God. However, they responded to Him precisely as the psalmist described in Psalm 10:13. They renounced God and confidently asserted that He would never call them into account for their attitudes and actions. The fact that they no longer exist demonstrates the folly of their conclusions.

      The simple truth is that there is no reason for the ungodly to ever feel secure. They may build their cities upon the highest mountains, accumulate great wealth, build massive walls, recruit the wisest, and train the mightiest. If they renounce God they will be destroyed (Psalm 2). Should they be permitted to live a full life and never have to answer for their actions while living, things will change the very moment after their deaths (Luke 16:22-23).

     God’s people should take great comfort in knowing that God does indeed see the behavior of the wicked and judges it accordingly. He knows when the wicked do violence to the righteous and He will call them into account for it in His time. When He does He will “break the arm of the wicked and evildoer” (10:15). 

Applying The Psalms (Psalm 9)

Recounting the deeds of the Lord

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all your wonderful deeds.”

Psalm 9:1

     Most of us have our favorite figures from history, men and women who shaped the world through their courage, brilliance, tenacity, and drive. Whether they were soldiers, scholars, teachers, or humanitarians they all had many of those four traits in common. Sometimes we like to read their biographies to keep their deeds fresh in our minds. Perhaps we even memorize a few of their quotes to encourage us throughout our days and to help us live a bit more like them.

     Doubtless David also had individuals from the past that he looked up to. It is not hard to imagine him considering the faith of men like Abraham and Moses through the difficult circumstances in their lives. It is easy to picture David contemplating their actions and striving to match their enduring faith as he descended into his various valleys of hardship.

     However, the most telling part of David’s life is that the One he contemplated more than any other was God Himself. While David certainly had the wonderful deeds of previous heroes of faith to consider, he preferred to spend his greatest energy in recollection of the awesome activities of God. Throughout Psalm 9 David recounts several of God’s wonderful deeds. He recalls God upholding his just cause and offering righteous judgment (9:4). He recalls God rebuking wicked nations (9:5). He recounts how God has been a stronghold for the oppressed and has not forsaken those who seek Him (9:9-10). He recounts how often God has rescued him from the very gates of death (9:13). He considers how God has dealt with the nations that rejected Him (9:16-17). He remembers the Lord’s power to cause the wicked to tremble at His presence (9:19-20). Spending this time in reflection moved David to whole-hearted worship and praise (9:1). 

     It can be good to remember the works of past human beings and the things they were able to accomplish. It will always be better to remember the wonderful deeds of our God. Let us do it often and be moved to praise Him every time!

     They are but men

“Arise, O Lord!  Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you!  Put them in fear, O Lord!  Let the nations know that they are but men!”

Psalm 9:19-20

     Do you know what Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill all had in common? They were only men. They were singular in their talents and accomplishments, they stood above their contemporaries in terms of influence and power, and in many ways they shaped the course of events in this world to a greater or lesser degree. As you know there are other individuals, people of supreme talent and drive, who could be added to this list. Yet in the end they are all but men and nothing more.

     The day will come when even the “greatest” among us will stand still and silent to be judged by One infinitely greater then they. “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”  (Romans 14:10b-12) 

     In the great and final Day of the Lord, when all are called to appear at the Judgment Seat of the Lord Himself, everyone will be called to attend. The world-shaping people of nearly immeasurable influence will be there, knees bowed and mouths closed. Presidents, Prime-Ministers, Emperors, Pharaohs, Kings, Queens, Czars, and every great leader who has ever lived will stand before the Creator of all things to receive their final, eternal judgment. The Judge will not be hearing arguments or scheduling appeals. All of the power and influence they wielded in life will be accounted as nothing before the One possessing all power and influence. If they never knew it in life they will know it then, they were but men.

     Respect those to whom respect is due and be subject to those who wield authority (Romans 13:1-7). After all, they would have none were God not permitting it (Daniel 5:28-32). Yet remember, they are but men and will be judged by God just as we will. God is God and man is man. We must never allow that distinction to blur.          

Thoughts From Psalms 7 and 8

Playing With Fire

“If a man does not repent, God will whet His sword; He has bent and readied His bow”

Psalm 7:12

     There is a preacher I know who is now in his eightieth year. He is one of the godliest men I have ever known and I have as much respect for him as any man. I was surprised to hear that this veteran soldier of Christ approached one of his brethren, a friend of his for several decades, to essentially “come clean” over an incident that had taken place nearly fifty years prior. As it turned out this older preacher had wronged the other Christian in secret and had never allowed the light of day to shine upon his actions all those years ago. He finally came to the conclusion that he could never rest assured of his salvation until he repented of the action not just to God, but to the man he had wronged. Indeed, he did not believe that he really had repented unto God until he sought to make things right with his friend.

     Does it seem strange to you that my friend would be worrying himself over something that had taken place fifty years prior? Does it seem odd that he would approach that man and apologize to him over something that man could barely even remember? I believe that my friend made the right choice. There is no statute of limitations on our sins. The mere passing of time does not lessen the significance or a sin nor does it erase the stain it leaves on our soul. When a person becomes a Christian by submitting to Christ in humble faith and contacting His precious blood in the waters of baptism (Romans 6), the sins of the past are washed clean (Acts 22:16). Part of that process is repenting of those past sins (Luke 13:3, 5).

     However, repentance remains incredibly important in the life of the Christian. The sad truth is that though the faithful Christian sins far less, he still sins. To continue to be washed clean by the blood of Christ he must be willing to continue to repent of his sins (1 John 1:8-9; Acts 8:22). 

     Let us not play with the fire of sin. When we see it in our lives let us join voice with David. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”  (Psalm 51:1)     

“O Lord, our Lord”

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

Psalm 8:1, 9

     Rarely have I been so overcome with wonder and emotion that I did not know how to express it in some way, even if the manner and result of my expression ultimately fell far short of capturing the intensity of the feeling. Israel’s sweet psalmist (2 Samuel 23:1) possessed the soul of a poet and a seemingly endless collection of the most moving expressions of adoration, praise, devotion, and wonderment. Yet even he could only utter a faint “O Lord, our Lord” as his mind was transported to realms that simply defy capturing with mere words.  What depth of feeling must have poured from his pen in the four words, “O Lord, our Lord”!

     It is very telling that Jehovah Himself was the object of David’s consideration in this psalm. This righteous man who never seemed to be at a loss for words knew not what to say when meditating upon the glory of the God whose own heart he possessed. It is the fact of David’s meditation upon God that I wish to consider with you at this time.

     How often do you allow yourself to mentally set aside all the activities of the day, to emotionally check out from the daily grind, to spend time in serious thought about all that God is and all that He does? I promise that you will be better for it when you do. These days it’s rare to hear someone speaking of God in the manner David does in the psalms, isn’t it? I have to assume that this is because the vast majority of people simply do not know God the way that David knew Him. David regularly meditated upon the Creator of the heavens, moon, and stars (Psalms 8:3). David often considered the exalted station God has bestowed through His mercy and grace upon man (Psalm 8:4-9). David’s constant awareness that creation proves a Creator lit within him a fire to seek out and cling to this Creator’s revelations as a drowning man clings to driftwood (Psalm 119). 

     Is there any wonder that the only way to express his depth of feeling was simply to say the name of the One whom he adored? After all, His very name is majestic in all the earth. How much more His Person? We would do well to spend more time considering the things that filled David’s thoughts.     

Thoughts From Psalms 3 and 4

The Owner Of Salvation

“Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be upon your people!”

Psalm 3:8

     What do you desire more than anything else in this world? Is your greatest desire for the type of wealth that will permit you to retire early and never have to work again? Perhaps your greatest desire is for the type of notoriety that makes your name recognizable all across the world. Could it be that your greatest desire is to excel at your chosen field above all your contemporaries? Or could your strongest desire simply be to marry and enjoy the remainder of your life surrounded by family and friends?

     As you consider your answer to this question, ask yourself this: how strongly do you desire the salvation of your soul? In Psalm 3 David was writing during the time of his flight from Absalom. What a terrible tragedy when one’s own child actively seeks his life! With enemies surrounding him and with friends few and far between, David did what he always seemed to do—He placed all of his hope and trust in the One who had saved him so many times before. Psalm 3 reaches its crescendo in the final verse. No matter how bad it became for David he knew that God always possessed the power to rescue him from his trouble.

     I ask you to consider whether God has saved you from the worst enemy confronting man today—sin (Romans 6:23). While salvation belongs to the Lord, we are the recipients of it. The invitation of the Lord has been offered for all (Matthew 11:28-30). There is no one living who finds themselves outside the scope of Matthew 11:28-30. Are you a thief? You can be saved. Are you an adulterer? You can enjoy salvation. Are you a liar? You can receive forgiveness. How can I say this? I can say it because salvation belongs to the Lord and His greatest desire is to save man’s soul (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

     However, the owner of a thing has the right to stipulate how it can be used. Our heavenly Father is no different. Because salvation belongs to Him He gets to determine what man must do and be like to receive it (Romans 10:17; John 3:16; Luke 13:3; Matthew 10:32; Acts 22:16; Ephesians 4:1). 

     Salvation belongs to the Lord. If we would be saved we must belong to Him as well. Read the verses listed above and let the Lord tell you how.

Properly Placed Treasure

“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”

Psalm 4:7

     I can remember a time when I thought that if I could just manage to acquire a small fortune my life would be as happy and fulfilling as it could be. I think that a great many people who claim Christ as Lord feel much the same way. Obviously we should all know that wealth does not lead to happiness or fulfillment. A simple perusal of the magazine stand as we pick up our groceries shows us that movie stars, music stars, and sports stars are not immune to disaster and depression just because they enjoy great wealth.

     Sure, it’s nice not to have to live one paycheck to the next. I can only imagine that it’s nice to pay one’s monthly bills and still have so much money left over that you don’t even know what to do with it. But wealth is just a thing among a world of things. When a person puts all of their trust in things, whether they have a lot or a little, a truly fulfilling life is far from them. 

     Perhaps someone says, “I know some people who put all of their time and effort into acquiring more stuff and they seem to be awfully happy.” I have no doubt that there are some who are quite fulfilled with that type of life. But which shoes would you rather fill before God: the shoes of a wealthy man with all of his toys who forsook the health of his soul, or the shoes of a man who lived from one paycheck to the next but lived faithfully to the Lord?  I know my answer.

     So we come to our title. Where are you storing your treasure?  The parable of Luke 12:13-21 shows us a man who continues to exist in our world today. He was a man who spent all of his time acquiring money and things. His soul was required of him and his wealth could do nothing to save him. God called him a fool. Verse 21 says, “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

     So where is your treasure? Put it in heaven and understand exactly how David could say what he did in Psalm 4:7. Only then will you know the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).