Mensa Otabil - The Blessing of Godliness
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Psalm 4:3: «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 two. In verse two, David is asking, «How long? How long are these people going to be against me?» But then, in verse three, he provides the answer to how long. 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 says a few things about what we must also know: that the Lord sets the godly apart. The verb that is translated «set apart» means to treat in a special, good way.
So, when a person is godly, God picks them and sets them apart, treating them in a special way. 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.»
Just 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 meaning to be loyal, devoted, and pious. So, when we say that a person is godly, that is what the word conveys. Under the Old Testament, a godly person was someone who obeyed the laws of God, lived according to the rules of the law, and was righteous with their sacrifices and all they did. That’s what makes a godly person. However, that’s not the same under the New Testament.
In the New Testament, a godly person is one whose sins have been forgiven by the Lord Jesus Christ, who has Christ living inside them, and who is committed to following Christ and doing His will. Thus, godliness in the Old Testament is not exactly the same as godliness under 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 meet God’s standard. Therefore, the godly belong to God. Like David, we must have a firm assurance that if Christ is in our heart 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. David also 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.» You know it’s not like what happens when you get 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 have to know God has heard you. Not because you feel good, or light, or happy, but simply because you know God says when you call on Him, He will hear you. David says, «How long?» in verse two, and then he reminds us the godly are God’s special treasure. 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.