December 2, 2018 -- Psalm 4:1 -- The God of my Righteousness

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

Psalm 4:1 NKJV

Whom or what do you serve? In order to really answer that I encourage you to remember the story of the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18-23). When he met Jesus he asked: "What must I do to be saved?" Jesus told him to keep all the commandments. Charitably Jesus ignored this man's prideful response and said: "One thing you lack, go and sell all you have and follow Me". Interesting. Jesus was directly attacking that man's idolatry. God was not this man's righteousness, nor this man's glory. He found his security and pleasure in his riches.

The Word of God does this very thing. It reads us and calls out the very things we trust and rely on--all the things that would keep us from God.

For the glutton, the Word calls out idolatrous attention to eating.

For the LGBTQ?, the Word calls out the idolatrous place sexuality has above any other commitment.

For the adulterer, the Word calls out idolatrous lust.

For the murderer, the Word calls out idolatrous thoughts of hatred against others.

For the Gamer, the Word calls out idolatrous investments of time and money.

You can see what this list teaches. Whatever is obscuring our wholehearted devotion to God, that is idolatry, that is the very thing which points out who/what is the god of your righteousness. When the Word reads us in this way we can get angry, turn away with sadness (like the Rich Young Ruler), call others to see our point of view and with hostility require others to understand our allegiance to this false god or, OR, we can leave these false gods, these things to which we devote our money, time, worship and adoration and serve the God of my righteousness!

Psalm 5:11-12 the writer declares:

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;

Let those also who love Your Name

Be joyful in You.

For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround them as with a shield. NKJV

The LORD God, the God of my Righteousness, will so fill our hearts, minds, time, and life that our former idols will soon be forgotten and shown to be the meaningless trinkets they are.

The God Who made us, has the right to teach us how to live.

The God Who sustains our every breath, is worthy of worship.

The God to Whom we will give account, awaits your response.

O God of my Righteousness, deliver me from false worship.

O God of my Righteousness, relieve my distress.

O God of my Righteousness, teach me Your will and way.

O God of my Righteousness, surround me with Your favor as with a shield so that I will shout for joy to You. Amen.