This Psalm (full study available here) starts off with the servant of God crying out to the “God of my righteousness”, and goes on to explain what we do with Christ righteousness and how we grow in our ability to be able to no longer glory in those things which God does through us as though we had somehow done those works which have come down from heaven as a gift from God (1Cor 4:7 , 1Ch 29:14 , Jas 1:17).

1Co 4:7  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

1Ch 29:14  But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God’s elect are set apart from the world to the glory of God who uses the weak of the world, the not many noble brethren, to set the stage for the salvation of all men (1Co 1:26). In doing this, God is glorified showing that he can start with the unnatural branch, the weak of the world, and accomplish what only God can do through Christ our hope of glory within (Col 1:27).

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

We come to know God and become convinced of His mercy and love for us by dying daily, and being baptized into His death which is what sleep is likened unto and why the scripture says that we “commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still”, which is what we do when we rest in the Lord (Psa 62:5 , Psa 37:7).

Psa 62:5  My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Psa 37:7  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

We can only offer the sacrifices of righteousness by trusting in God and we can only trust God by learning obedience by the things which we suffer (Heb 5:8). We overcome the evil of this world with good (Rom 12:21), the scoffers with faith that is unwavering, the liars with truth (Joh 8:45-47), and all of this is made possible because God causes his countenance to shine on us as the apple of his eye.

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Joh 8:45  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Joh 8:46  Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
Joh 8:47  He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

This Psalm concludes so joyously showing us that He is the one who puts gladness in our hearts which is likened unto wine and corn so that we can receive a peace that passes all understanding, a peace that enables us to “lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” and He does this as God works in us through Christ “both to will and to do of His good pleasure”.

The full hour + study entitled ”For it is God which worketh in you  both to will and to do of his good pleasure” is available here.