Psalm 4

Piano Man

I remember listening to a panel discussion almost two decades ago. It was the who’s who of Reformed theology sitting in the panel. And they asked one of those “let’s get to know you” kind of questions. The question was: “If you were in a desert island and could only take one book of the Bible, what would it be?” The first speaker said boldly, “Romans!” The second speaker said, “Romans!” The third said, “Ephesians!” And the last speaker paused for a moment and said, “The Psalms!” Everyone looked at him with those bright, intense, intellectual eyes. He continued calmly and said, “Because I don’t simply wish to know God, but also to sing unto him.” I was there! He spoke with such clear authority, that no one dared challenge his answer.

How would you answer that question?

The question is a bit jovial and unfair. We want the whole Bible always. But we should desire a faith that can be sung. We should want Romans always served with a side of Psalms.

Psalm 4 is a kind of ode to congregational music. In fact, it is addressed to a musician:

The New King James Version Psalm 4

To the Chief Musician. With Stringed Instruments. A Psalm of David.

From the outset, when we as a church emphasize the role of singing, we are not exaggerating. 53 psalms are addressed to the chief musician. And the New Testament Scriptures are constantly quoting the Psalms not just as music, but also as theological dogma. For us this morning, remember that when we sing, we do theology. And the best theology is sung.

Psalm 4 is addressed to a music leader—someone leading the congregation musically; setting the tempo for the choir. He’s to arrange the music and harmonize it with stringed instruments. In this particular psalm, it’s most likely the harp. We might say that David is partial to that instrument. Now, there is a greater point to be made, which is that musical instruments are necessary for the sake of worship.

While hearing only our voices on special occasions is good and delightful, it is even better when musical instruments set the tempo and rhythm accompanying our voices. There are some of you who remember a time when we didn’t have any pianists. We had accapella Sunday many Sundays. They were formative. But I much better enjoy the glory of all the varied instruments (harps, trumpets, flutes, violins, piano, etc.) decorating our voices with beauty.

David is pro-instrumentation. Why? Because David knows that instruments in the context of worship are war tools. He knows that worship is warfare. And he knows that the Son of God goes forth to war with his people when they sing. Augustine observed in his sermons on the Psalms that ‘The voice of Christ and His Church was well-nigh the only voice to be heard in the Psalms… We ought to recognize His voice in all the Psalms.’” Yes, we sing because in Psalm 1, Jesus is the blessed Man. In Psalm 2, he is the ascended Man. In Psalm 3, he is the interceding Man, and now in Psalm 4, he is the Godly Man.

The New King James Version 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.

2 How long, O you sons of men,

Will you turn my glory to shame?

How long will you love worthlessness

And seek falsehood?

This is another Psalm on David’s persecution from Absalom. It is most likely that David is referring to a particular event in his flight from his son’s conspiracy. The Scriptures tell us that on the way through Bahurim, David encountered a violent protestor by the name of Shimei. And when he sees David, he begins to curse him. He says, “Down with your throne!” “Long live Absalom!” “You blood-thirsty man!”

Now, this does not sit well with one of David’s right-hand man. Abishai didn’t take well to Shimei cursing his king, and he takes the opportunity to share his opportunity to wax ineloquent:

The New King James Version Chapter 16

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

Shimei doesn’t understand the covenant faithfulness of God to David. He’s ignorant. Those who are of the seed of the serpent will curse the people of God. If you are of David’s line, you will be mocked and ridiculed. They will curse you in an attempt to turn your glory (kavod) to shame. They curse you because they want to remove your weightiness and meaning into weariness.

The anger of the unrighteous exists to discourage the anointing of the righteous. The mighty—the counsel of the ungodly—convey falsehood as a way of life. When you ask, “How long?” They say, “As long as it takes to create confusion, hysteria, and discouragement among God’s people. But the Christian’s response is not hopelessness and despair, but purpose and wisdom to act righteously when the ungodly curse at us:

The New King James Version Psalm 4

3 But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly;

The LORD will hear when I call to Him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin.

Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.

Now, this is not David’s passivity. He’s not falling into some nihilistic mindset. He’s offering Abishai a way of dealing with this cursing that catches the ungodly by surprise. He says in II Samuel 16 that the Lord may use this cursing for my good. He may turn my providence around and grant me relief and refuge. Yes, there are moments when fighting is good and right. But there are also times when kindness of God changes the disposition of man. Sometimes speaking with mercy and kindness shocks the unrighteous. This is a hard thing because to curse a king is to receive the death penalty. And David will use his kindness to save Shimei from the death penalty later, and his kindness to provide a table for Mephibosheth and others.

Remember that David is the anointed One in Israel. In Psalm 4, he says that Yahweh has set apart for Himself a godly Man. He points initially to himself, but then beyond to Jesus, who is the godly Man of God; the greater King whose kindness from the cradle to the cross brought salvation to all who believe.

This is the established way of those who trust in God: petition him for assurance of his protection. This is a kind of spiritual work-out that doesn’t stop. Chesterton famously said: “You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing; and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”

Saints, saturate your lives with prayers for protection. Decorate your office and home with Bible verses, great quotes, the rug when you walk in, the sign on your kitchen with good words—godly words: “But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” It’s not about a set of random words. What differentiates the Christian from the pagan is not how many words uttered, it’s the intentionality of the words uttered. We live our prayers in union with Jesus. The pagan say prayers that are never heard. But our God answers us.

David exhorts us to call upon him, and then he gives us a really hard imperative: Be angry and do not sin!” Abishai had venom to protect the Lord’s anointed. But David says, “Don’t allow the unrighteous to consume you.” “Don’t allow bitterness to overtake you.” Is it not true that at times we want to practice evil that good may come? If you are married: think of the last time your spouse wronged you. What did you do? Attack. Insult. Passive/aggressive behavior. Silence. Don’t become that which you are criticizing.

Herein is another Vespers Psalms. It’s not simply manifesting self-control, but David also encourages us to have a bit of a pep talk. He says, “Meditate within your heat on your bed, and be still.” The idea here is not to make your most versatile yoga pose. Or, to repeat some ancient mantra. The Hebrew idea is to commune with your own heart. In the stillness of the night, or even on those sleepless nights, when the soul is disquieted; or when that meeting the next day keeps you up at night, or when trouble at work is frustrating you, or when that hard conversation is coming, commune with yourself and rehearse what you know to be true.

Pause. Remember God’s covenant, deeds, faithfulness, steadfast love.

The New King James Version Psalm 4

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And put your trust in the LORD.

Here is a great summary of the Christian duty under difficult circumstances; in matters we cannot control. When David composed this psalms, David was driven from his throne, and the enemies were in possession of the seat of public worship, yet he says, “Offer righteous sacrifices.” When time, place, space, furniture, well-being was all taken away, David says, “Worship still!”

What an encouragement for the people of God: in a culture that uses any reason to skip over worship, in a culture that treasures Sunday travel sports over the worship of the Triune God, David says, “Worship!” We who have everything cannot act as if we have nothing to lose. The Psalmist would say to us that if we have everything (place, space, freedom), therefore, offer our bodies as sacrifices unto God in worship.

That’s the chronology of the Christian: worship and trust. Worship and trust. When I don’t know what to do; when I don’t know what will be the diagnosis on my blood tests, when I don’t know if I will live another year, when I simply don’t know what’s next, here is your pattern: worship on Sundays, and trust God. And then, repeat!

In persecution, famine, sword, death, hardships, uncertainties, there will be those who would test your beliefs. They will use your vulnerability to persuade you of foolish ideas, dangerous ideologies, faulty doctrine. They will cause you to question your source of goodness.

The New King James Version Psalm 4

6 There are many who say,

“Who will show us any good?”

That question lingered throughout the Old Covenant Scriptures. It’s an existential question, true. Where can happiness be found? is it in wealth? in pleasure and palace places? Sensual pleasures?

But ultimately, the answer is the virgin birth. Jesus is the great good; the ultimate good. When our faces are covered by a dark cloud; when our troubles overwhelm us, what we need is something far greater than earthly possessions—what we need is the Lord God.

The New King James Version Psalm 4

For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.