Chapter Four

The inscription indicates the purpose of the psalm for public use on stringed instruments (Hebrew neginot, Greek ἐν ὕμνοις; in Slavonic “to the end,” that is, for final performance; but in what manner is not indicated, but is clarified by the term “in songs,” that is, for vocal performance). In the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bibles, the psalm is ascribed to David. The close similarity of its content with Ps 3 (cf. Ps 3 and Ps 4:7), as well as the correspondence of its content with the circumstances of David’s flight from Jerusalem during Absalom’s uprising, confirm the authenticity of the inscription. David depicts himself “in distress,” and calls the enemies “those who love futility and seek lies” (Ps 4:2-3 verse), points to the lack of food for the people with him, to their despair and obtaining sustenance (Ps 4:7-8). In such a position was David during his flight from Absalom, when he was in the wilderness of Mahanaim and when the lack of food was supplied by a gift brought by Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai and consisting of flour, honey, barley, sheep, and grain (2 Sam 17:27-29).

After turning to God with a prayer for help, David offers his enemies to reconsider the motives of the persecutions they have raised against him and to repent before God (2-6). David himself, having already received help from God, sleeps peacefully. By the concluding words of the psalm, the latter can be called an evening prayer to God, complementing the third psalm as a morning prayer (cf. Ps 3:6).

Psalm 4:2. When I call, hear me, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. In his constrained position as one being persecuted, David asks for protection from the “Lord of his righteousness.” Absalom’s uprising was prepared by Absalom, who presented his father to the people as an unworthy ruler, one who did not love his people, did not care for its welfare, and was an unjust judge. The people that rose up against David believed these words. David, conscious of the injustice of these accusations, calls God the “God of his righteousness,” seeing the injustice of the persecution raised against him. The miseries experienced by a person are like bonds for him, shackles that constrain him; therefore “to bring relief” means to free from miseries. David here recalls the former acts of God’s goodness toward him, for instance, during the persecutions by Saul, when the Lord saved him, a righteous sufferer. Now David is suffering also unjustly, and he asks, “Have mercy and hear.”

Psalm 4:3. Sons of men! How long will my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love futility and seek lies? Psalm 4:4. Know that the Lord has set apart the righteous for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him. The consciousness of his righteousness and the resulting confidence in divine help evoke in David a bold address to the enemies and their exposure. “Sons of men”—sons of noble birth, that is, nobles. “My honor”—my royal dignity. “Love futility”—love the petty, vain, and unstable. David looks upon the nobles who have risen up against him as having acted from vain, power-hungry calculations, in the hope of currying favor with Absalom and occupying an honorable position upon his enthronement. Their attempts to overthrow the king are fruitless, for the Lord “has set apart the righteous for Himself,” whom He will also protect. By “righteous” David understands himself, an innocent sufferer in the adversities he is experiencing.

Psalm 4:5. Be angry, yet do not sin; ponder in your hearts on your beds, and be silent; Psalm 4:6. Offer sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the Lord. David advises his enemies to reconsider and repent. “Be angry, yet do not sin.” The anger at David arose from the belief that David was an unworthy administrator and an unjust judge. Such anger, as a stand for the truth that had been trampled upon, is lawful, but it should not lead people to sinful actions, to injustices toward others, in this case toward David: it is necessary first to check whether the accusations brought against him are just, and this is possible in a calm state of mind, to which he invites them (“ponder on your beds and be silent”). The consequence of checking their actions in them will be repentance, which they should mark by bringing sincere sacrifice to God (“sacrifices of righteousness”) and place their hopes in the establishment of life in Him, not in their own strength.

Psalm 4:7. Many say, “Who will show us good?” O shine upon us the light of Your face, O Lord! Psalm 4:8. You have put gladness in my heart more than they have when their grain and wine were abundant. Psalm 4:9. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Sincere faith in God is always justified. The few devoted followers surrounding David were close to despair when they had no means of sustenance and called upon God: “shine upon us the light”—and then the Lord helped them (see the introduction to the psalm). In this David saw God’s hand upon himself, and therefore, entrusting himself to His protection, “in peace lies down and sleeps,” even though the enemies are near him.