Psalm 4 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.
Neginoth means music, song, or music of stringed instruments. So King David’s instructions to the chief Musician, who was most likely Asaph, was to sing this psalm with the accompaniment of stringed instruments.
Verse 1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
King David was a king and a prophet. He was a praying man and his prayers were heart to heart talks with the LORD. He was not too proud to seek help from his God. Here he states that God had “enlarged” him which means God had widened his understanding of the trouble and the manner in which he was helped. And during his trouble God continued to make his leadership of Israel and his position as king more expansive and secure. In the opening words of this Psalm David called to the LORD because he was a man of faith.
Application: Notice that King David refers to “God of my righteousness”. The LORD Jesus Christ had not yet come to Earth to shed His blood for mankind for the remission of sins, yet David knew that any righteousness he had was because of God and not because of anything he was or did. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6 He was only righteous because of his faith in God. Likewise, converted Christian believers today are only seen as righteous because the blood of Jesus covers and remits their sin so that they can be seen as righteous by a righteous LORD.
Verse 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
Throughout King David’s life he experienced opposition: from his countrymen, from his family, from his military, from politicians, from religious leaders, from pagan nations, and of course, from Satan. There was always someone trying to bring him down. So no wonder he was always calling out to the LORD from which his help would come. He asks those who are against him how long they will give their heart to those things that are worthless and false. The Hebrew word translated as “leasing” is “kazab” and it means a lie, untruth, falsehood, or deceptive thing.
Verse 3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
King David’s faith was strong and the LORD honored that faith by providing protection from King Saul and others who wanted him dead and by elevating him to the throne of the nation Israel. God did indeed set David apart to be His servant and to lead the Hebrew nation into righteousness. God always heard King David when he called to Him.
Application: All who have faith in Jesus Christ and who follow Him and obey His commandments (all two of them – love Me with everything you have and love your neighbor in the same manner) can be assured that He will hear them when they call out to Him, day or night. He promised to never leave or forsake us. Praise the LORD!
Verse 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Application: The Hebrew word translated as “stand in awe” is “ragaz” and it means to tremble, quake, or be excited. When one’s entire focus is on the LORD instead of the things of this world, the only way one can live is to be in awe of our Awesome God. The closer one is to Him, the more one realizes just how amazing, how powerful, how caring and loving, and how just He is. When alone at night on one’s bed, it is one of the times a believer can have a little talk with Jesus and wait for an answer. The busyness of life will not allow a believer to hear His voice. One has to be still and listen. King David knew this only too well as he spent years of nights alone with the LORD while running for his life from King Saul.
Verses 5-6 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Notice that King David did not write “offer animal sacrifices”. He knew because he was a man after God’s own heart that God wanted His people to sacrifice to Him through denying themselves the things of this world and by living a righteous life in a wicked and fallen world. The only way to be righteous is through faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. King David knew that it was the LORD who caused His face to shine upon him and upon the nation Israel.
Verses 7-8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
The Hebrew word translated as “gladness” is “simchah” and it means joy, mirth, gladness, pleasure, and the joy of God. There were many things that brought joy to the lives of the people in Israel, one of them being a bountiful harvest of their agricultural crops. This would mean food on the table and more money when the crops were sold. But King David’s joy came from trusting in God. He knew that God would provide for all of his needs, for food, shelter, finances, and safety. Therefore he could rest at night and be at peace no matter what the world or Satan would try to do to destroy that peace. “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.” Psalms 29:11 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Ecclesiastes 26:3