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Psalm 4:2: How Long Shall My Honor Be Turned Into Shame?

Psalm 4:2
[2] O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah (ESV)

One of the continuing themes in all of the Psalms is the contrast of the righteous and the wicked. We saw this distinctly in Psalm 1 where the life of the one who is blessed is described as one who does not go where the wicked go nor do what the wicked do.  The blessed one is strong like a fruitful tree. "Not so the wicked." They are blown away like chaff.

Here in Psalm 4 David questions the wicked. How long will you turn honor into shame? How long will you love vain words? How long will you seek after lies? These rhetorical questions could just as easily be posed to the world that we currently live in. It seems that we act surprised that people would rather believe lies than truth. Yet, even after several millennia of time, the wicked are the same.

The wicked prefer to walk in darkness.  The light exposes their sinful behavior. Even Jesus reaffirmed this principle in the Gospel of John:

John 3:19
[19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (ESV)

We should really not be surprised when our co-workers are obsessed with spreading the latest gossip. That kind of behavior fits into David's description of the wicked who love to turn honor into shame. In our world today we encounter those who are obsessed with lies and speak words that have no value or merit. Surprised?  No need to be. These are the wicked.

Until God turns the light onto someone's darkness they will continue to love their evil deeds. Don't be surprised by the wicked. Rather, pray for them. Who will you pray for today?

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