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Introduction

For those who are joining us for the first time, my name is Jeff. I'm one of the elders here in GLCC. This afternoon, Hanniel was standing between you and your room, right? So right now, I'm standing between you and supper, you and your durian, or maybe you and your bed. Maybe some of you woke up very early this morning are very tired. Okay, I tried to be as concise as I can. I wanted to title this sermon “How to sleep well at night?” But after thinking about it, I think better not, not a good idea because after this sermon, you cannot sleep, then you come knock on my door, or knock on Pastor Jason’s door, that's even worse. So after thinking about it, I better change the title “From distress to joy and peace”. So as John said, right? All of us, everyone in this room will go through difficult times. I think we have a lot to learn from psalm 4. Psalm 4 is a psalm that I go back to regularly, because I learned so much from it. Everyone in this room will go through a situation that brings you great distress, some time or other. And I hope we can learn something from how David responded to his own great distress. 

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Rebellion of Absalom

A bit of introduction to psalm 4, I need to give you a bit of background story so you understand the context of the psalm. Psalm 4 is written by David. I believe he's talking about Absalom’s rebellion. Absalom is King David's son. There are clues externally, outside the psalm and within the psalm that points to this psalm talking about Absalom’s rebellion. I don't have time to go through the clues but if you're interested, after the sermon, you can look for me I can share the clues with you. 

But I want to give you a bit of backstory so you understand the context of the psalm. So this story can be found in 2 Samuel, chapter 15. Absalom, if you are not, you don't know is King David’s son. In fact, some commentators say that Absalom is David's favorite son. Absalom is the next in line to David's throne. But some of you may know that Absalom is not the successor that is chosen by God. Who is the successor chosen by God? Solomon. Very good. And incidentally, Solomon is the son of David and Bathsheba, with whom David had an affair with. It speaks about the amazing grace of God, isn't it? But that's a whole new sermon altogether. 

But Absalom probably knew that he's not going to ascend the throne of David. And he started plotting a coup or rebellion. So in those days, if you have a problem, you can seek an audience with the king, you can come to the city of David, in Jerusalem, and seek an audience with the king. If the king receives you, you can tell the king your problem. And hopefully the king can help you solve your problem. Is kind of like your meet the MP session, right? You want your son to “siam” NS (National Service), you know to be exempted from NS, you go and see your MP, ask you to write a letter to SAF (Singapore Armed Force) and you hope long long then your son can “siam” NS and it will never happen. Okay? But it's like a meet the MP session, but this is a meet the king session. 

But what Absalom did was he went to the city square every day and then you intercept these people. And he probably told them something like this, “You know, King David, he's a busy man, you know, he's got a country to run. He's got wars to fight. He's got many wives and many concubines to satisfy, you know? He's got no time for you. I, I can help you. I can solve your problem.” 

And he did this for four years. Absalom did this for four years. And he won over the hearts of the people of Israel. He also won over the hearts of some of the military officials, the government officials, so after four years, when he believed that he had enough people on his side, he declared himself the king of Israel and he and his gang headed for the palace. So when King David heard this, King David didn't want to fight his own people, much less his own son, because these are his own people and his own son. And David was forced to flee his own palace and to flee the city that was named after him. 

So that's the context, the backstory of Psalm 4. So I want to answer three questions tonight. First question, first question is “What caused David's distress?” Second question. “How did David respond?” And the last question is “What were the results?” 

Distress of King David

So the first point is a bit longer, so bear with me but I promise you the second and third point will get progressively shorter, okay? So what caused David's distress? Before I answer the question, I want to show you that David's distress is not your usual kind of distress. It's not the kind of distress where you misplace your wallet, you misplace your phone. Nowadays phone more important than wallet, right? Because everything is on your phone. Your bank statement, your Singpass, CPF(Central Provident Fund) everything on your phone, right? It's not the kind of distress. It's not like David, one day woke up and “Hey, where’s my crown? Where’s my sword?” No, no, not that kind of distress. Because if you read verse 1, it says, “Answer me, Lord. Where are you, Lord? Why are you silent?” Can you hear the desperation in David's words? Is almost like David was pleading and begging with God to answer him and to help him. So it tells us in verse 1 that David's distress is not your normal kind of distress, is great distress. So the question is, “What caused David's great distress?” The clue is found in verse 2, is found actually in the word “honor”. He says “O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?” The word “honor”, sometimes or most of the times translated as “glory” is actually word “kabod” in Hebrew. The word “kabod” literally means “weight”. Isn't it interesting that the Hebrew word for “weight” is translated as “glory” or “honor”? Have you ever wondered why? Interesting, right? Has anybody seen this device before? Those who are around my age or older probably seen this device, lah. Those younger probably not, right? So when I was a little boy, I used to follow my grandmother to the market. So in those days, some store owners still use this device. So when my grandmother wants to buy fish, or meat, or dry goods, the store owner will put whatever that my grandmother wants to buy on the plate. And then the store owner will hold this device and he will move the weight along this rod. What is the store owner trying to do? To measure the weight of the thing that my grandmother wants to buy, right? But why? Because the weight will tell you the value of the thing that my grandmother wants to buy. One kati 50 cents or two kati $1. In other words, the weight of something tells us the value, the price, the worth of something. So I submit to you when David said, “O Lord, O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?” At this point in time, David, David reigned a total of 40 years as the king of Israel. And by this time he would have reigned about almost or more around 30 years as a king of Israel. I submit to you by this time, David's worth. Have you heard the word “self-worth” identity? 

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David's worth is wrapped up in his kingship. He would have gotten used to his power, his authority. Imagine three meals a day you eat three-star Michelin food. He has access to the best foods in the land. He has access to the best women, most beautiful women in the land. He has many wives, many concubines. And I submit to you by this time, David's glory, David's worth, David's identity is wrapped up in his kingship. So when his own son, Absalom threatened his kingship, when his own son threatened his identity, and worth, David is in great distress. 

I want to dwell on this point a bit longer, because I think it's worth belaboring the point. Because some of you may know I work as a professional counselor so every day, men and women come and see me. So by the time they come and see me, right, usually is they have a lot of problems that they cannot solve themselves so they come and see me. And as a counselor, I like to go deeper to find the root of the problem in order to help them and most of the time, I would say most of the time, the issue is, has to do with self-worth and identity. So David, I submit to you, his self-worth and identity is all wrapped up in his kingship. So my question tonight is, “How do you derive your self-worth? How does the world derive their self-worth?”

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A person’s true worth

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them

In a meritocracy. Do you know what is a meritocracy? Maybe some of you may not be familiar, but in a meritocracy, it means that in a society, everyone who has the ability can be successful. Success is not dependent on your skin color, or your family name, or your race or ethnicity. In a meritocracy, if you are able, you're capable, you work hard, you study hard, you can be successful. That's good. That's the good of being a meritocracy. Singapore is a meritocratic society but the flip side of meritocracy is a person's worth is based on what? A person's worth is derived from success. A person's worth is derived from achievements, from your social economic status, or even from one's appearance. Because with one's appearance, you can be famous. You can achieve fame and fortune. What about capitalism? What is a capitalistic society? Singapore is a capitalistic society, right? In a capitalistic society, a person's worth is found in what he or she drives or wears. Where? What is the address? Whether it's HDB, whether it's a condo or landed property, or good class bungalow and even the size of a bank account. So the question is, where do you derive your self-worth? 

David probably derived his self-worth from his kingship. But I realized that after being a Christian for 40 years, very few preachers talk about this. What does the Bible say about our true worth? And I realized that a lot of people even in the church don't know what does the Bible say about our true worth? What's our true worth? Where do we find our true worth? Do we find our true worth in the things of this world? In our job? you know, Title? And our where we stay? What we wear? Where do we find our self-worth, true worth? What is the Bible saying?

In the first book of the Bible, and the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:27. “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Do you realize that of all the creation in the world, only you and I carry the image of God? No other creation carries the image of God. Not even the majestic eagle, the dinosaur, the lion, or humpback whale or great white shark. None of them created, carry the image of God, except you and I. That's our true worth. 

The psalmist puts it this way. “I praise you for I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works, my soul knows it very well.” The psalmist is talking to God. He says, “Wonderful are Your works.” In other word, we are God's creation. We are God's work, workmanship and we are God's masterpiece. God doesn't make mistakes. You know, most of us, we are not happy with our appearance, with our body, right? Some of us think we're too tall, too short, too wide. Cannot say fat. Too wide. Too thin. Our nose too sharp, too flat, too small or nostril too round, not round enough. We're never happy with our body appearance. But the Bible tells us that we are God's masterpiece. God doesn't make any mistakes. Young people, you are not a mistake. You are God's masterpiece. That's our true worth. 

All have fallen and come short of the glory of God.

But why is it, why is it that many of us, even people in the church don’t don't know our true worth? Why is it that so many people, even people in the church, seek our true worth from the things outside, from the world. Because of this, because all have fallen and come short of the glory of God. Because we've all rebelled against God, we have all rejected God, we have all turned away from God, we are all separated from God. And because of that, we have lost our sense of true worth. So it is with David. David is a fallen man, even though he's a chosen king, he's still a fallen man. And I submit to you, he began to derive his self-worth from his kingship. 

Response of King David

So what's David's response? How did David respond? He responded, like any human being would. When you're in great distress, think back to the time when you had when you experienced great distress in your life. What is your natural tendency? Your natural tendency is to focus on the problem, or the people that caused the problem. And that's exactly what David did. He says “O men, how long have you, shall my honor be turned into shame? And how long will you love vain words and seek after lies?” Is it helpful to focus on the problem and the people? You know, when we encounter distress or a situation of great distress, we tend to keep thinking and thinking and thinking over and over again on the problem and the people that caused the problem. Is it helpful? Probably not. So in counseling or psychology we call it ruminations. And I can tell you this is not based on scientific research anyway, but I can tell you most cases of depression and anxiety happen or occur because of ruminations. 

Results of King David’s response

Be angry, but do not sin

But in verse 3, interestingly, David began to pivot. He begins, he began to engage in self-talk. He's talking to himself. This is a very important skill, I hope that you can learn. What does he say to himself? “But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.” What is David doing? David is talking to himself and he's reminding himself who he is and who his God is. You know, the word “LORD” is all caps, “L-O-R-D”. Is not your usual “Adonai” or “master”. The word “LORD” in all caps means “Yahweh” or “Jehovah God” is the name of the God of Israel, the self-existent God. He's reminding himself that his God is bigger than his problem. And what else did he do? Verse 4. He's talking to himself. He continues to talk to himself. He says “Be angry and do not sin”. It's important to highlight this point, because some Christians tell me that Christians are not supposed to be angry. But David is telling himself “Be angry, but do not sin”. Anger is a natural human emotion. And we know that there are many kinds of angers, isn’t it? There is the raging explosive anger. There is the simmering quiet, simmering a lot of resentment, bitterness anger. But there's a kind of anger, that is, you're so angry that you're shaking. And that's the kind of anger that David is talking about. He was so angry, that he was shaking, because his self-worth, his identity is threatened. And he's so angry and he reminds himself “Be angry, but don't sin”. And he says to himself, “Ponder your own hearts on your beds and be silent”. Ponder on in your own hearts literally mean speak to your own heart, speak to your heart. So he says, speak to your hearts, but be silent. So which is it? Speak or be silent. I believe that David is telling himself

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Do the right thing and then put your trust in the Lord

telling his heart to be quiet. Why? Because our heart is deceitful. Our heart is desperately wicked. Our heart is full of resentment, anger, unforgiveness, revenge, bitterness. So David is telling his own heart, “Be quiet” and he's speaking to his own heart. And what does he say? Verse 5, “Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord”. That David is telling himself “Do the right thing”. Do you know that it's difficult to do the right thing? Sometimes is easier, to be bitter, to think about revenge, to think about, to focus on anger than to do the right thing. I don't know what your situation is. I do not know what's the right thing is. But David says, “Do the right thing and then put your trust in the Lord”. You know many a times we say we put our trust in the Lord, but actually we are still worrying. We're still thinking about the problem. When David says “Put your trust in the Lord”, he means give your problem to God and then trust that God will do what is right for you. So David says “Do the right thing and put your trust in the Lord”. And then verse 6, he says, “There are many who say who will show us some good. Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD.” You know many commentators says the phrase “lift up the light of your face”. Many commentators say that David is asking God to bless him and his people, but I think is much more. 

I just want to read two quotes to you. This is by David Kozik. He says, “To have the glorious pleased face of God shining upon men is a greatest gift one could have. To know that as God looks upon you, He is well pleased, not because of who you are, or what you have done, but because you are in Jesus Christ, there is no greater source of peace and power in life”. And the next quote is from Spurgeon. “Why should he fret when God smiles? What matters though all the world should censure, if Jehovah countenances or turn his face upon his servant. A look of approval from God creates a deep, delightful calm within the soul”.

I believe that's the transformation point for David. You see, David, in verse 6 shifts from seeking approval from men to approval from God. You see, when David is deriving his self-worth from the things of this world, actually he is seeking approval from men. Think about it. When we derive our worth from the things of this world, whether it's work, your job title, or maybe material things, actually we're seeking approval of men. And the transformation for David takes place here when he realizes that all these things, all these things can be taken away. All these things are impermanent. But the approval of God cannot be taken away. And he shifts from seeking approval from men to approval from God. And what were the results? Actually, the results were astounding. The results were amazing. The results were unbelievable.

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Verse 7, “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound”. There is more joy now than the best foods in the world. And verse 8, he says, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety”. There is peace and joy. Peace that money cannot buy, joy that money cannot buy, because the approval from God can never be taken away.

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The secret of true joy and true peace is found only in Jesus Christ

So the question I want to ask tonight is, “Where are you deriving your self-worth? Are you deriving your worth from the things of this world? Are you deriving your worth from who you are in Jesus Christ?” And when there's great transformation, when you shift from seeking approval from men to seeking approval from God, there is great joy and great peace. And before I end, I want to end with this. I told you earlier that King David was forced to flee his palace. But I want to tell you about another king, King Jesus. The author in Hebrews says Jesus was crucified outside the city. He was not crucified in Jerusalem. The difference between David and Jesus is David was forced out of his city, David was forced out of his palace. But Jesus, Jesus went on his own accord outside the city. Because the Bible tells us he was obedient to the point of death.

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Jesus, who was rich, became poor so that we who are poor can be rich in Jesus Christ

He went to the cross on his own accord. And on the cross, at the moment of his greatest need, Jesus cried out, “Oh, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Why did he not cry out? “My Father, My Father”, he cried, “My God, My God.” I've always wondered about that because he taught us how to pray. He taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name”, but at the hour of his greatest need, the moment of his greatest need, he cried out, “My God, My God”. Why? Because His father turned His face away. Because He was cast out from His own family, so that we can be brought into God's family. You see, Jesus, who was rich, became poor on purpose. Why? So that we who are poor can be rich in Jesus Christ. You see the immortal God became a mortal man. Why? So that we mere men can have eternal life. The son became a slave. Why? So that we the true slaves can be the children of God. And the King, the eternal King became a servant. Why? So that we the true servants, can one day rule and reign with Jesus Christ. So would you come, would you come to Jesus and find your true worth in Him. And that's the secret of true joy and true peace. Shall we pray? 

Father, we thank You. We thank you for Jesus Christ who came to do for us what we cannot do ourselves. He came to take upon our sins, our shame, our guilt upon himself, so that we can be reunited with you. Many a times we forget who we are. Many a times we forget how big the God we serve. And many a times, we turn away from you. And we seek the things of this world. Many a times we forget our true worth and we turn to the world, we turn to the world to find our worth, and we turn to the world to seek the approval of men. So Father, I pray that you continue to work in our hearts, turn us back to you, to turn us back to Christ and to find our true worth in Jesus Christ alone, that we may find true joy and true peace, just like David when he moved from distress to joy and peace, and I pray and ask all this in Jesus name, Amen.