Mensa Otabil - The Lord Sets The Godly Apart (10/02/2025)
Psalm 4, verse 3: «But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the Lord will hear when I call to Him.» This verse, verse three, is a response to verse two. Yesterday, we looked at verse 2. In verse 2, David is asking, «How long? How long are these people going to be against me?» But then, in verse 3, he provides the answer to how long, and he calls his accusers not to forget God’s commitment to those who live for Him. He says, «But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself.»
So he’s telling those sons of men who are against him, «You have to get this right; know this.» He mentions a few things that we must also know: that the Lord sets the godly apart. The verb that is translated «set apart» means to treat in a special way, in a good way. When a person is godly, God picks them, sets them apart, and treats them in a special way. So, this is a word of encouragement that David speaks to himself because he was a man who knew how to encourage himself in the Lord. When people are against him and he says, «How long?» he doesn’t end with «how long.» He says, «Remember this: that God sets the godly apart for Himself.»
Live for the Lord. Like David, we must also know that when we live for the Lord, He sets us apart. You don’t live for God and lose. When you live for God, He will set you apart; He will pick you out of the line for special treatment, for His mercy, for His goodness, for His favor. That’s what David says. He also helps us to understand that the godly belong to God. The word «godly» is translated from a Hebrew word that means to be loyal, to be devoted, and to be pious. So when we say that a person is godly, that is what the word means. Under the Old Testament, a godly person was a person who obeyed the laws of God, lived according to the rules of the law, and was righteous with their sacrifices and all the things they did. That’s what makes a godly person. But that’s not the same as it is in the New Testament.
Under the New Testament, a godly person is one whose sins have been forgiven by the Lord Jesus Christ, who has Christ living inside of them, and who is committed to following Christ and doing His will. So, godliness in the Old Testament is not exactly the same as godliness in the New Testament. The standards are the same, but what qualifies us to be godly is different. In the Old Testament, it is our own works; in the New Testament, it is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that helps us to meet God’s standard. Therefore, the godly belong to God. Like David, we must have firm assurance that if Christ is in our hearts and we belong to Him, we are in God’s hand; we are in His grip, and He would never allow the enemy to pull us out of His hand.
God hears you. Then David says that God hears the prayer of the godly. When we live for God, He hears us. You may not have the physical evidence that God is hearing you. It’s not as if when God hears you, you hear a special sound or some other indication that tells you, «Oh, God has heard you.» No, it’s not like receiving a text on your phone. God hears us, and we have to recognize that by faith. How do we do something by faith? By depending on His promises in His word. He says, «Call upon Me, and I will answer you.»
So if you have Christ in your heart and you call on the Lord based on the word of God, you must know God has heard you. Not because you feel good, or you feel light, or you feel happy, but simply because you know God says when you call on Him, He will hear you. David says, «How long?» in verse 2, and then he reminds us that the godly are God’s special treasure, and you are God’s special treasure if Christ Jesus lives in your heart.
Let’s pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, Your grace has set me apart for honor. You hear me when I call on You. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.» God has set you apart; He has set you apart to treat you well and to bless you with His goodness, with His mercy, and with His favor. Pastor Mensa Otabil, shalom, peace, and life to you.