Psalm 4

I've been studying through the Psalms with my 10 year old son and tonight we completed about half of chapter 4. Unfortunately I was not writing out my studies until the 4th chapter so I cannot post those, but as I complete each of the chapters from now on I will post them here. We are not studying every night unfortunately, sometimes because before we know it it's time for his bedtime, and other times because I cannot be at home in the evening in time. And then there are the times when we don't do it because I simply fail in my duty towards my son. May God help me to be more consistent in my study time with my boys!

Well here is the lesson from chapter 4:

Read Psalm 4:1
"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer."

The psalms are such an encouragement and a reminder that we are never alone. No matter how difficult a time we are experiencing, others have gone though the same or through much worse. What is more, even if we were going through something that nobody ever has gone through before (which is highly unlikely), even then the psalmist reminds us that God is with us.

Here in verse one we see David's words: "Hear me when I call..."

David is pleading with God to listen to him carefully, to listen to him in a favorable manner. He calls out to the God of righteousness, to Elohym, the living God. David does not call out to false pagan gods because only Elohym is the One True God...only He is able to deliver us from our distress. And here David also shows why He is so willing to cry out to His God. God is faithful to us, and in previous experiences God has already delivered Him, so he asks God to deliver him yet again, to be merciful to him, to hear his prayer. Upon whom else can we so confidently place our trust? Nobody. All men will disappoint us, but God will never do so. His promises to us are eternal, and as His children we know that one day all the sufferings of this world will pale before the majesty of His kingdom.

Read Psalm4:2-3
"How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? Selah But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him."

This psalm may also have been written during the rebellion of Absalom, and so David now calls upon these men, including his own son. These were men who should have been loyal to him as the annointed King of Israel. These are men that should have been at his side defending him instead of rebelling against him. And so he asks them why they shame him...why they want to cast him down from the throne. How much time will they persist in rebellion against the King whom God chose? He calls them lovers of that which is worthless and seekers of that which is not true. Notice that he compares them to those who plot a vain (or worthless) thing in Psalm 2:1.

It does not matter though, what these plotters think. God sets apart for Himself a particular group of people. These worthless men who plot against their King show by their actions that they are not godly...that they do not belong to God. But David is confident that He belongs to God, and that His God will hear his call!

What a comfort it should be to us that God will hear us. As His people, we can call to Him whenever we want, and He stands ready to listen. When we are confident that this is the God whom we serve, then the trials of this world become more and more insignificant when compared to the heavenly home that awaits us!

Read Psalm 4:4-5
"Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD."

The word translated as "angry" is the Hebrew "ragaz." It means to tremble to quiver with violent emotion. The NASB translates it as "tremble," the NKJV and the ESV as " be angry," and the KJV as "be in awe." The sense we get here is of a person feeling strong emotion. To quake with this emotion makes us understand that this is not merely a passing fancy. And yet, experiencing this emotion is not sin itself. For note that the psalmist says, "ragaz" and do not sin. (see also Ephesians 4:26 to see how the inspired author uses the word).

Note carefully what David is calling for from these wicked men. Whatever emotion they may be feeling, fine. Let us deal with it. But sin not. They were sinning by rebelling, he is telling them not to sin. Be angry with him, be upset at him, tremble with emotion, but do not let it give way to sin!

What a helpful reminder this is to all of us who call ourselves by the name of Christ! We will encounter many things that give rise to strong emotions, but in all things, we must comport ourselves with grace and love. If we allow these emotions to lead us to sinful actions or thoughts, then we bring shame upon ourselves and we stain our testimony before the world. Let us instead make sure our trust is always in God, in the Lord who is the only One that can rightfully take vengeance (Deuteronomy 32:35).

Read Psalm 4:6-8
"There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

Here David speaks to the condition of the world in general. What do they mean when they ask who is there to show them any good? If you look to verse 7 you will see a hint. David speaks to his own happiness, a gladness born of trust in Him. Their gladness comes from prosperity, from worldly increase. True rest comes from knowing God and being His servant. Who does David say helps us to dwell in safety? God. This does not mean temporal safety, or else Stephen and the other martyrs would not have perished. No it refers to peace. To dwell in safety is to know that no matter what happens here in this world, our heavenly reward is secure. Nobody can take this away from us. Nobody!

This then is the major lesson for us today. Note that David starts out with calling upon God for relief. Yet even as this psalm progresses he begins to experience the relief he asks for. How did God give this to him? By David's meditation upon Him. So turn to the Word in your times of distress, focus on our future home when this pilgrimage takes us through hard times!