Psalm 4

Psalm 4 is both an individual lament and a Psalm of confidence. Though the exact circumstances of David for its composition are not known, the situation of misunderstanding, lies and exasperation is universally understood.

Verse 1. ‘righteous God’ - This is not just a name or a standard;  This is a description of God’s actions, of how he relates to his people, as a father to his children. Psalm 18:47-48 describes some of this activity: ‘...the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, who delivered me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you rescued me from the man of violence.’

relief and distress - The word used here for in distress implies being in a tight corner, stuck. The NEB translates it ‘I was hard pressed’.  Correspondingly, the phrase give me relief is the imperative form of the phrase ‘you have broadened’ or ‘you have enlarged’.  The picture here is one of being stuck between a rock and a hard place, pinned down, unable to move yourself, and asking for God to make your space bigger.

Verse 2. O men - These ‘men’ are the prominent citizens of the day - the landowners, the powerful, the wealthy.  They have gone astray and are opposed to David’s position, leadership and glory given to him as the anointed king. David has known amazing power and a loyal following during certain times of his life.  Here those who hold the power outside the kingship are turning away to things opposed to God’s kingdom. 

Verse 3. the godly - This is a wonderful name, literally ‘the beloved’.  Its root is the hebrew word hesed - weakly translated (because it’s the best we have in English) ‘lovingkindness’ in the noun form.  It has a rich, full meaning, encompassing God’s covenant promises.  The well-loved phrase of Psalm 23:6, ‘goodness and mercy’  which ‘shall follow me all the days of my life’, is a translation of this word, hesed.  It is the source of all our joy, the motivation of our love, the reason for our existence - God’s full, sure, overflowing love/kindness/loyalty/promise/mercy all wrapped into one. Take all of that and name yourself with it.  THAT is what David is calling himself.  In the middle of everyone doubting his relationship with God, David stubbornly clings to what he knows to be true - he is the beloved.

Verses 4-5. Confident in whose he is as king, David begins to instruct those ‘men’ of verse 2.   ‘Be angry’ could be translated ‘tremble’, giving us the phrase, ‘tremble with fear, and stop sinning’. And ‘ponder in your own hearts’ could also be read ‘search your hearts’ or ‘speak to your hearts’.  David is telling these men to repent and then worship God through the sacrifice.  They must submit themselves to David as king, and ultimately to God.  

Verses 6-7.  Who can make us happy, or show us something good? This is the way of the world, and the natural inclination of all of our hearts.  We make idols out of everything, searching for anything to fill our hearts.  But David knows here the true source of joy, and prays not only for himself, but also for his people, the blessing the priests would have given at the sanctuary, ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his face toward you and give you peace’ (Num 6:24-25). 

grain and wine abound - Harvest time was a time of incredible joy; full granaries and vats meant security for months to come.

Here laid before us are the two outlooks of inward and outward joy.  As Kidner writes, the first wells up, ‘steadily from God through every discouragement, the second the rare product of a pleasant set of circumstances.’  David’s friends long for better times.  David longs for God.  Here we see our own choice of where to find our joy.  Do we long and wait for the right circumstances, complaining all the way until we get them?  Or do we look for the Lord himself in the midst of every circumstance, content to have him alone?

Verse 8. in safety - This last word of the Psalm derives from the root for ‘trust’.  The NEB translates it ‘unafraid’.  This is how David can sleep, free of fear or anxiety.  

Food for thought:

1. How do you regularly name yourself? This is sometimes out loud to others, usually quietly to yourself.  Failure? Close enough? Better than? Fat? Smart? Hard working? Stupid? Needy? What would it be like to replace those things with the name 'Beloved', as described above? 
2. Look at the questions in the paragraphs about verses 6 and 7.  Practically, how do you think this contentment could be fleshed out in our lives?

Sources:  Intro to the Psalms, ESV Study Bible

Psalms by Derek Kidner

Expositor’s Bible Commentary by Willem A VanGermeren, Edited by Tremper Longman and David Garland

The Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 1, Allen P. Ross

Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible