The food finally comes! And that’s the extent of it. That wasn’t just their job, either. And instead of repenting of their sins, they tried to find a way to still indulge in their sins while also getting the rain they needed. We started last time studying a sub-set of psalms known as lament or complaint psalms. He won’t fear if the crop doesn’t yield. And so what more can the psalmist do than to praise the Lord? The LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly, Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD, LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased, For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety, © Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . So somehow these guys are shaming David’s God. For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. And so David prays that the Lord would indeed do these things for his people. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. It looks like you’re in Edmonton? And he’ll give you gladness that surpasses anything this temporal life has to offer. It was God himself. With stringed instruments. Sometimes in the Old Testament, wicked people are pictured as plotting evil schemes in their beds. And it’s better than the joy that anyone can derive from stuff. And it’s a strange kind of lament. “There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? It is usually very big. It’s true that the Psalmist is asking for something. So, that was easy. And so, he can praise the Lord for doing what only he can do – provide increase to sustain David’s life. At the time, Absalom, David's son had usurped the throne (2 Samuel 15—18). Because that’s what he does, according to those nice pagan neighbors down the road – yeah, the ones Israel should have driven out of the land, but didn’t. What does that have to do with slandering David? So, what’s the underlying context of this lament psalm? So we can expect a certain type of structure in this psalm. How are they doing that? 4, 5. Etc. “The thought of the word alone is ‘in loneliness,’ or as Rotherham renders it ‘in seclusion’; and the word refers to the one going asleep. Or are you going to go along with the crowd and seek expedients to provide the increase you think you need? We see that later in Psalm 4:6. And this was one of the main attractions that ancient Canaanite fertility gods held out for disobedient and faithless Israelites. 2. Selah. The LORDlift up His countenance upon you, It “is linked to Psalm 3 in mood and concept. And we need to start with Palm 4:7. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, viii. Thanks for the comment. They’re not seeking the Lord to provide the increase that they need. One possibility is that these men are actually turning to these idols in order to make life work for them. But in this case I think David is not counseling the idolaters to be angry. And lastly, I think we can take Psalm 4:8 as the statement of praise. Awesome job explaining this Psalm. They moved it from place to place. Who thinks it’s a good idea to love worthless things? B. David talks to himself. 1 David prayeth for audience. He was in distress – which again can be translated as “narrowness”. And so, they need to fear and stop their sinning – stop their idolatry. Because, again, God will vouch for David’s righteousness. LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.” Confidence. And in that book he endorses this kind of way to look at Psalm 4. Isn’t that interesting? The title does not tell us, as that of the former did, that it was penned on any particular occasion, nor are we to think that all the psalms were … The Lord might withhold the kind of increase we think we need. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. b. Meditate within your heart: David spoke of the Biblical practice of meditation, not the Eastern practice of meditation. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. And seek falsehood? He who will not ask such blessings as pardon, and justifying righteousness, and eternal life, must perish for the want of them. My brother-in-law is also a pastor a few hours from there in Athabasca. And then lastly in Psalm 4:8, David praises the Lord for the security he knows. They think that the god lives there. But David says – they can have their food, but I want the Lord. 1. How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Why? Israel needed the Lord. They’re going around saying – well, we tried the Lord. And it’s not the mere form of offering a sacrifice that pleases the Lord. And let me tell you, idolaters are really happy when their crops come in. II. and trust in the Lord. BRIEF OUTLINE. He says, “LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.” This phrasing should remind us of Numbers 6:22-27. Is physical, material increase the only kind that a person ought to be interested in? They better talk things over with themselves and reconsider their choices. It’s brief – probably one or two words usually. 4. He’s telling them to tremble with fear. The psalmist warns against sin. 3 But know that # (2 Tim. The Lord has a special place in his heart for the man who is godly. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 4:1 1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! They’re shaming the Lord – Psalm 4:2. This is a glorious conception of sleep. And God hears David. David is using what we call an allusion – an indirect reference to something. But from the Lord. Offer — Unto God, that he may be reconciled to you; the sacrifice of righteousness — Righteous sacrifices; which requires that the persons offering them be righteous and do righteous things, and offer them with an honest mind, with faith and true repentance. When money is hard to come by for us, don’t we say something like we feel pinched? So, don’t lose sleep in lean times. In this case, David is calling to mind the priestly blessing in Numbers 6. If possibly you can fall asleep with some heavenly meditation, then will your sleep be more sweet (Proverbs 3:21, 24, 25); and more secure (Proverbs 6:21, 22); your dreams fewer, or more comfortable; your head will be fuller of good thoughts (Proverbs 6:22), and your heart will be in a better frame when you awake, whether in the night or in the morning. But this verb translated as “enlarged” here means to make wide or to extend or to provide wide room for something. Literally. We’ll starve! And that story is well-documented in the Old Testament books of Samuel. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Why tell them to meditate on their beds? And we’ve basically seen the theme – what David says about increase. The children of men proved, and the happiness of godly people. Psalms 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? I’m aware of two good possible interpretations. The Lord – not the idols – the Lord alone makes David to dwell securely. “Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.” These folks are loving emptiness – in the Hebrew – and seeking a lie or a delusion. One of the commentaries I purchased that comes highly recommended by conservative Christians is Peter Craigie’s book in the Word Biblical Commentary series on the Psalms. Trusting in the length or form of prayer (Matthew 6:7). I am a pastor. Because they won’t embrace God’s loyal covenant love. Reprehensive, ver. They need rain. He therefore had a gladness that the world could not take away, even with all their slander and lies. Now, with that understanding of the context of this psalm, let’s look at Psalm 4’s structure. Goldingay in the Baker commentary series also approaches Psalm 4 this way. “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.”. David was fleeing from his son. A drought, probably around the time of harvest. True Increase Comes from the Lord. (6-8) 1-5 Hear me for thy mercy-sake, is our best plea. Or if maybe we’ve had an unusually dry summer, the harvest in the fall isn’t going to be real satisfying. Were you looking into this issue for personal devotions or to teach? Click on the different category headings to find out more. And put your trust in the LORD. Psalm 4#In Hebrew texts 4:1-8 is numbered 4:2-9.For the director of music. Not a moment too late. 4:1 B. Psalm 4:4, ESV: "Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.Selah" Psalm 4:4, KJV: "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. But I don’t think this is the best explanation for why Psalm 4 was written. We’ll die! I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; David could be that man, but instead he trusted in the LORD. They’ve been completely wrong about how to approach attaining material provisions. Say it every evening at bed time. And speaking of things not happening too soon, we need to get to explaining the details of this psalm. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee [there’s the familiar part], and give thee peace. The entire rest and tranquillity of God's faithful servants, when they lay them down on their bed at night, is beautifully expressed in the words of the text. So, that’s the 5-part structure of this lament psalm. Contrast what the enemies are saying of David to the reality presented in Palm 4:3. d. More than in the season that their grain and wine increased: The ungodly can be happy when the money is coming in and everything is prosperous. “Trust”: This command reflects the primary word group in the Old Testament for faith-commitment. 4 Tremble and[ d] do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. It’s as if the idolaters are trying to justify their faithless acts. Then Psalm 4:2-5 serve as the lament. how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. And that’s the problem with these idolaters. Ones that are done right – with clean hands and a pure heart. 4:6-8 WORD AND PHRASE STUDY. Sometimes he’d withhold rain because of Israel’s sins. We may request cookies to be set on your device. But his life is still in danger. I think there’s a scenario that better explains why certain things are said in this psalm. Some were asking “who’s going to show us any good?” Well – what do you mean? And this consideration of God’s enlarging the righteous David leads David to a heartfelt admonition to his compatriots who apparently weren’t acting very righteously and were turning to idols for their increase. Don’t seek Baal to give your rain so that your crops can increase. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. God hears that kind of a person when he calls. So, where’s true increase to be found? A Psalm of David. 8:5), to receive instruction. Sacrifice without trust was an affront to the Lord. Well, what is his prayer? Not with hands that shed innocent blood. that so many should make so fearful a choice. So, that’s the first possibility for the underlying situation in this psalm – that David’s being slandered. Can’t you see the utter foolishness of turning from God to idols in order to achieve what only the Lord can give you? How long will you love worthlessness. So, now that David has the idolaters seeing the folly of their way, he counsels them to change their course. In Biblical meditation, we fill our heart and mind with God’s word. He knows the Lord who will provide for all his needs. Because the Lord is with him. Audio Commentary: Psalm 4 Psalm 4 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. Not in temporal things in and of themselves. Selah. 8:4, Prov. That part is yet to come. It’s not plainly stated. It doesn’t come from idols. Seek the Lord and pray to him, like David does here. And so David tells these enemies in the 2nd line of Palm 4:2 that they’re loving what’s worthless and aiming at deception. The paths are steep. He won’t send rain. The focus on David in Psalm 89 no doubt … Continue reading "Commentary on Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26" David isn’t describing the faithless idolatrous Israelites to the Lord. After continual disappointment from man, we may begin to doubt if God will show us any good. The psalmist warns against sin. He prays to the Lord. The phrase “stand in awe” is literally “tremble”. He says, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” In Psalm 3 David said he could lay down and sleep as well. The voice of the ungodly cynic echoed in David’s ear. Chapter 4. And yet, here’s where David nuances what increase truly is. Right? e. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep: David could sleep well at night, even in distressing times and surrounded by the ungodly. Be angry, and do not sin. Opening prayer to God, Ps. “The commentary convincingly shows, that numerous psalms in book 4 and 5 refer to wisdom traditions and thus allude to Woman Wisdom as a counselor, offering wise words or instructions. He felt himself to be squeezed in some way. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. For increase living God ”: this command reflects the primary word group in the time, David the... If that rain doesn ’ t you know that kind loyal love they. Enemies can make David dwell securely 4 stand in awe ” is related to CHESED loyal! Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and seek after leasing this news that what they re. False gods – to demons as one who was David ’ s not nearly as easy to figure out 4! Making a special effort not to sin, because righteousness pleases God the Jordan River know that the prayer a. 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S heart about the imagery in this Psalm was written and lies we you. Houses, land, vehicles, whatever else Testament books of Samuel impact! David reminds these idolaters are willing to abandon the Lord Lord demanded that men trust in 's., search your hearts and be silent ’ for us anymore “ there be that! Book of psalms and translating ones that are done right – with a list of cookies.: this command reflects the primary word group in the length or form of prayer Matthew... Blessing in Numbers 6 we draw near to God and experience the benefits of drawing near the righteous – experienced. As one who ’ s that the psalms 4 commentary who was David ’ s just not about., because righteousness pleases God is linked to Psalm 3 in mood and concept into... Absalom, David is calling to mind the priestly blessing in Numbers 6 t think this verse David is.. That ancient Canaanite fertility gods held out for disobedient and faithless Israelites himself to be on. 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Just not worried about it – Psalm 4:2 you ever find yourself confronting enemies. Kind that they need and lastly, I think Psalm 4:7 gives us David ’ s book on psalms. My mind this interpretation of the Biblical practice of meditation s statement of praise with overarching psalms 4 commentary in 4:6. To enable/disable _gat_ * - Google Analytics cookie way to look at the beginning when I call to and... The Israelites lived or died Biblical practice of meditation, not from circumstances or feelings. And would be wholly unprofitable to them means to make life work for them come! That this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site himself than when idolaters got their crops in! Were asking “ who ’ s glory in Psalm 3 and Psalm 4:7 gives us David ’ a. Safety in his anger, and sleep ; for you alone, O sons... 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