PSALM 4 Many connect Psalm 3 (morning prayer) and Psalm 4 (evening prayer) to a time of Absalom’s rebellion. This isn’t about physical safety but David’s reputation being maligned with slander and lies. Jesus also had, and still has, his reputation attacked. In both psalms, David is suffering injustice and oppression.
1 Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.
6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
SECTIONS
Psalm 4 shows David’s changing attitude. He went from anxiety to assurance as he prayed and trusted in God. At the end of another day of pressure, pain, and persecution, David has 3 conversations which led to rest:
1. Praying to God for Preservation (4:1);
2. Reasoning with His enemies about Repentance (4:2-5);
3. Praising God for True Perspective (4:6-8).
To stand in awe is to reverence God. The fear, or reverence, of God is the beginning of wisdom. If we truly fear God we will not sin, because we don’t want to displease Him. “Stand in awe and sin not”-this means to tremble or shake in the fear of the Lord so as not to sin (compare Isa. 32:10-11; Hab. 3:16).
THEME: contentment and peace in spite of circumstances
QUESTIONS:
What is David saying in the first part of this psalm?
What does it mean to you to be “set apart” for the Lord?
What are we told to do as Christians?
Have you ever had your reputation attacked? What was your reaction?
How do you handle anger?
What does it mean “Be angry and do not sin? ”What are we to do instead?
What does “Sacrifices of righteousness” mean to you?
What does “you make me dwell in safety” mean to you personally?
Was there a time God relieved you of fear or worry? What did he do?
Imagine lying down to sleep and being tormented by what your enemies or pretend friends say about you? David knew what that was like, but he trusted in the Lord. No one could take away his joy in the Lord, even with their malicious slander and lies. His Joy was from the Lord and not circumstances or feelings. The Lord has set apart the godly for himself- those who are faithful, and righteous in Jesus. How can you learn to trust in the Lord if you don’t already? Is there a particular area you find it hard to trust and find peace?
Sometimes we try to go to sleep but then start to worry about the past or the future. We may be alone and wonder if we are safe in our home? There is so much crime in the world. But David professed to God “you make me dwell in safety.”
ADDITIONAL VERSES (using different bible translations) When I’m not sure of what something means I read the parallel verses to make it more clear. These are from the parallel verses on biblehub.com. Here are different translations for Verse 2:
Barean Bible says: How long, O men, will my honor be maligned? How long will you love vanity and seek after lies
New American standard: O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?
Christian Standard: How long…will my honor be insulted? How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie?
Contemporary English: How long will you people refuse to respect me? You love foolish things, and you run after what is worthless.
Different translations for verse 4:
NIV: Tremble and do not sin…search your heart and be silent
New Living: Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight & remain silent.
New American Standard: Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.
King James: Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
Christian Standard:Be angry and do not sin; on your bed, reflect in your heart and be still.
Different translations for verse 7:
New Living Translation: You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
Berean: You have filled my heart with more joy than when grain and new wine abound.
International standard version: I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, LORD, enable me to live securely.
ADDITIONAL VERSES: (from the parallel verses on biblehub.com)
Eph 4:26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
Deut 33:19 They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness:
1 Peter 2:9 “But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light
Genesis 15:1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
scripturestudies.com
Instead of accepting Jesus, men “love delusions”. They are deceived and seek fulfillment in the things of this perishing world. The young expect to find it when they grow up and become their own masters; Parents, when their children are settled and provided for; Merchants, when wealth is acquired and independence secured’; The ambitious, in gaining power and reputation; The sick in health.
You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.” David is filled with the joy of the Lord and realizes that the pleasures of this world hold no comparison and are temporary; the joy of the Lord is eternal. The “grain” of the world satisfies for only a season, the Bread of Life, Jesus, satisfies for eternity.
Given this joy, David sleeps “in peace”, recognizing God’s protection in making him “dwell in safety.”We can indeed “sleep in peace,” and not let the cares of this world disturb them. We all face trials, but the Lord says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isa. 43:1-3).
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/archives/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Psa/Psa_4.cfm
With the ungodliness around him, David had reason to be angry. But he reminds himself to not sin in his anger, and to find solace in meditation before God.
Many connect Psalm 3 with Psalm 4, thinking that this was written in connection with Absalom’s rebellion. The focus in this psalm isn’t David’s physical safety, but his reputation which is being attacked with malicious slander. Jesus experienced the same thing. Wicked men tried to turn almost every thing in His ministry into shame. David had every reason to be angry but reminds himself to not sin in his anger. David can sleep well even in distressing times because his safety is from the LORD, not from circumstances or feeling.
My Reflection on Psalm 4: I remember times when I felt like David. I’d study the bible during my lunch time break and people would make fun of me. But God worked it out. I became friends with one of the very people who thought I was strange for studying God’s word. But she was also curious about why I did. And soon she began to study it for herself!
There was another time I was working at a title company. I wouldn’t give out petty cash to a particular man who always came to me asking for money with no receipts to prove it was for company business. He’d be so angry when I refused to reimburse him with no proof. His wife got angry. And she and her friend at work began to tease me in the lunch room. They called me horrible names and would say hurtful things. I’d go home and cry. Soon I became so upset by what they said that I quit my job, though I couldn’t really afford to. It created hardship for awhile. But I found an even better job. This job eventually led to my going into the medical field. Not only was I blessed by a better job, but I found out that the man who worked with me at the title company-the one who had kept trying to get money from petty cash –was soon fired along with his wife and her friend for stealing from the company!
These are only two stories of how God worked good from bad circumstances. There are many more. I soon came to trust that no matter what happened, God always had my back. I could trust he would work things out even if I didn’t know how or when he would do it.
I’m also reminded in this psalm how important it is that when people anger us, whether we deserve that anger or not, we need to forgive and not sin by getting back at them. Let God vindicate us. Sometimes we won’t always see that vindication. But we need to trust God and not sin in our anger.
SONG: Children of the Heavenly Father, Like a River Glorious, Peace Like a River, Be Still My Soul, 10,000 Reason