Men of Honour

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Men of Honour

Introduction

The world needs more men of honour, men of valour. Men who know how to do the right thing, and live the right way. Men who are not defeated by sin, but are conquerors. Men who know they are not perfect, but aim to live honourably. Men who are not crushed by slavery to debt and bad decisions, but are free to serve God, his church and be generous.

The world needs more men of honour. And today I want to look at this from the perspective of Psalm 4. Let’s see what it says,

Dependent on God (v.1) The first thing we see about a man of honour from Psalm 4, is that he is a man who depends on God, “1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!”

David relies on God for his righteousness. An honourable man knows that the only way to stand before God and be counted righteous, is to be accounted righteous by God.

The only way for a man to stand before the judgement throne of God and be accepted, is to place his trust in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ that was earned for him on the cross, and to rely on this and hope in this.

There is no other way.

God is the God of our righteousness.

David also relies on God when he is weak. An honourable man knows how much he cannot do things in his own strength, but that he needs God and needs God to be gracious to him in his time of need.

He knows this, because he knows in everything he has from his righteousness to his possessions to his family, all that he has is a gift from God.

Rejects Shame (vv.2-3) – An honourable man, by definition, rejects those things which could bring shame on his life, “2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah 3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.”

An honourable man is a man of his word. His words are not vain, his promises are not necessary, his yes means yes and his no means no. He does what he says he will do.

Growing up I loved watching John Wayne movies. He always played a man of honour. Even if sometimes a jaded one.

The Magnificent 7 were the same. They, like the masterless Samuri they were based on, longed to be of honourable service just one more time. 

We once emulated such men. Men who did what they said they'd do. Not for money, but for honour. Because it was right. 

Not many men are men of their word anymore, that is why the world needs more of men who are. 

Men who commit to doing the right things. Men who when they say they will do something they do it. Men who when they make a commitment they see it through. Men who avoid things that bring shame on their life.

Looking at porn brings shame on your life, and dishonours, your God, yourself, your wife, your future wife for those still single, and more. An honourable man rejects such shame.

Saying you’ll do a job and then not doing it, is dishonourable. So is committing and not following through. 

There are enough men like this in the world already.

What we need is more men like the ones God has set apart for himself. The ones who God listens to, because they listen to him. We need more of this.

Righteously Angry (vv.4-5) - Honourable men understand that it is good to be angry for the right reasons, “4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah 5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.”

Honourable men should get angry at the wickedness of our culture.

Honourable men should be angry when they do something wrong that hurts others.

Honourable men should get upset at injustice and oppression, and when they see the powerful throw around their strength to hurt the week.

Honourable men should be upset at how the rich bully the poor in our society.

Honourable men know that there are righteous reasons to be angry, but you do not let your anger control you and you do not lash out with your temper, otherwise you become the reason for somebody else’s just anger.

Honourable men know that in your anger you should not sin. Because it puts you in conflict with God and renders your sacrifices null and void. Honourable men know that they should find a just way to right the wrongs they see, to enact justice in godly and righteous ways.

And honourable men know, that sometimes you need to be angry and give the situation over to God and trust him to deal with, because it is in his hand.

Trust him, hope in him, allow yourself to rely on God to work.

Where are all the good men? (vv.6-8) - You have probably heard some women say, either in the movies or in real life, “Where are all the good men gone?” This is usually stated by some career woman in her mid-30’s who is freaked out that her biological clock is running out, and who spent the last 15 years of her life dating all sorts of guys, and rejecting a lot of good men who wanted to marry her. But it is also a valid question asked by this passage itself, “6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

Many people were crying out in David’s day, who will show us some good? Many people do the same thing today. People ask,

-        Where are all the good political leaders gone?

-        Where are all the good churches gone?

-        Where are all the good and honourable men like my grandpa gone?

-        We are the men who will stand up for what is right in this country.

-        Many people ask these questions, and more.  

An honourable man simply does this: he seeks to be the good he wishes he could see in others. He seeks to be the good he expects from others. He seeks to be the leader he wished that other men would be. The honourable man doesn’t complain about the lack of honourable men in society. He just aims up, and encourages everyone around him to aim up.

And he asks God to turn his favour on his family, church and nation, so that God will raise more honourable men.

And one last thing.

He Rejoices In God – An honourable man rejoices in God, “7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. 8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

An honourable rejoices in all that God has given him. Not because he has great possessions, though he may, but because he knows God has been good to him, better than he deserves.

He is happier than anyone can be just because he has food and good wine alone. This verse has to have been mis-translated, it should say, “when their grain and grape juice abound..” shouldn’t it? Of course not, God gives wine to gladden the hearts of man.

But this man is not happy because of grain and wine, but because he has a good God. And he knows that even if he died in his sleep, his good God is on his side. Therefore, he sleeps, completely trusting in the Lord.

Conclusion – David, for most of his life, was an honourable man. He really screwed up at one point. But at his high points of honour he was a model of honour. We need more men like this, who are honourable men, in the sense that this Psalm displays. Men, lets lift our game and be increasingly honourable men. Let’s pray.