Psa 4:1 | KingComments | STEP | It is possible that Psalm 4 is directly related to Psalm 3 in terms of circumstances. In Psalm 4, David seems to express feelings he has when he is fleeing from his son Absalom ( ). Psalm 3 can be called a morning prayer ( ). This is also above Psalm 3 in the NASB. Psalm 4, as is put above this psalm by the NASB, can be called an evening prayer ( ). It describes the situation in which it is getting darker and darker for the believing remnant. The oppression is increasing. Nevertheless, they continue to put their trust in the LORD. That these two psalms belong together is evident not only from the subject – morning prayer and evening prayer – but also from corresponding words used in both psalms, such as “many are saying”, “lie”, and “sleep. In this psalm, David shares his personal experiences that he has had with his enemies and with his God. He does so in a way that others can also benefit from it. In fact, he has composed this psalm “for the choir director” ( ). As a result of this, what he communicates in this psalm can be sung by others who recognize such experiences in their own lives. The wording in which David expresses his feelings here can be used by others to express their feelings in a God-pleasing way. We can also see in the choir director a picture of the Lord Jesus, Who in the church starts in us the singing of the song of praise to the glory of God ( ). The song is a great gift from God. A song of praise is a special way of singing about God in response to what He has revealed about Himself. Singing this psalm is also meant to be done “on” or accompanied by “stringed instruments”. Although it is not a psalm of praise, but more a prayer, the support of stringed instruments is prescribed. Even a prayer of distress has something sweet in it. We may know that even our lamentations are melodious music to God because in them we focus on Him and address ourselves to Him. He loves to hear our supplications. For “a Psalm of David” see at Psalm 3:1. David appeals to God in his distress ( ). He knows that he is righteous before God. That is his pleading ground before God, Who he calls here “God of my righteousness”. God is his righteous God. He knows that his case will be judged by God righteously. He can say that with confidence because he has a good conscience, because he lives righteously. His heart does not condemn him and therefore he has boldness to draw near to God as his righteous God ( ). He does not ask God to justify him, but to deliver him from his enemies as the God of his righteousness. The enemies who surround him enclose him; they oppress him. But through his prayer, the distress disappeared and he is relieved. God has relieved him. David asks God to answer him because he is righteous, that is, he is not aware of any sin in his life that would make answering him impossible. That is not the only ground for an answer. Immediately afterwards, he appeals to the grace of God to listen to his prayer. There is no posturing or exercise of compulsion in his prayer for an answer. He is aware that he deserves nothing and depends on grace for an answer. Grace is the experience of God’s favor on the basis of His faithfulness, without any input from man.

‏ Psalms 4:1

Introduction

It is possible that Psalm 4 is directly related to Psalm 3 in terms of circumstances. In Psalm 4, David seems to express feelings he has when he is fleeing from his son Absalom (Psa 3:1a).

Psalm 3 can be called a morning prayer (Psa 3:5). This is also above Psalm 3 in the NASB. Psalm 4, as is put above this psalm by the NASB, can be called an evening prayer (Psa 4:4 ; 8). It describes the situation in which it is getting darker and darker for the believing remnant. The oppression is increasing. Nevertheless, they continue to put their trust in the LORD.

That these two psalms belong together is evident not only from the subject – morning prayer and evening prayer – but also from corresponding words used in both psalms, such as “many are saying”, “lie”, and “sleep.

God of My Righteousness

In this psalm, David shares his personal experiences that he has had with his enemies and with his God. He does so in a way that others can also benefit from it. In fact, he has composed this psalm “for the choir director” (Psa 4:1a). As a result of this, what he communicates in this psalm can be sung by others who recognize such experiences in their own lives. The wording in which David expresses his feelings here can be used by others to express their feelings in a God-pleasing way.

We can also see in the choir director a picture of the Lord Jesus, Who in the church starts in us the singing of the song of praise to the glory of God (Heb 2:12). The song is a great gift from God. A song of praise is a special way of singing about God in response to what He has revealed about Himself.

Singing this psalm is also meant to be done “on” or accompanied by “stringed instruments”. Although it is not a psalm of praise, but more a prayer, the support of stringed instruments is prescribed. Even a prayer of distress has something sweet in it. We may know that even our lamentations are melodious music to God because in them we focus on Him and address ourselves to Him. He loves to hear our supplications.

For “a Psalm of David” see at Psalm 3:1.

David appeals to God in his distress (Psa 4:1b). He knows that he is righteous before God. That is his pleading ground before God, Who he calls here “God of my righteousness”. God is his righteous God. He knows that his case will be judged by God righteously. He can say that with confidence because he has a good conscience, because he lives righteously. His heart does not condemn him and therefore he has boldness to draw near to God as his righteous God (1Jn 3:21).

He does not ask God to justify him, but to deliver him from his enemies as the God of his righteousness. The enemies who surround him enclose him; they oppress him. But through his prayer, the distress disappeared and he is relieved. God has relieved him.

David asks God to answer him because he is righteous, that is, he is not aware of any sin in his life that would make answering him impossible. That is not the only ground for an answer. Immediately afterwards, he appeals to the grace of God to listen to his prayer. There is no posturing or exercise of compulsion in his prayer for an answer. He is aware that he deserves nothing and depends on grace for an answer. Grace is the experience of God’s favor on the basis of His faithfulness, without any input from man.