Psalm 4 Bible Study

Security During Difficulty

Text: Psalm 4

Introduction

When following the conversation between David and God through this Psalm, you find that the thing that weighs in the balances here is the very character of God. Thankfully, even a shallow reading of God’s Word reveals to us that God (in His great love) desires to enter into personal relationships with His people.

As goes for all the Psalms, this is not some kind of literary composition, but rather a prayer that stems from the depths of David’s heart.

I call this a Psalm of security due to the main points made: Righteousness given by God, godly set a part, God hears prayers, He is trustworthy, gives gladness, peace, and safety.

The title of Psalm 4 indicates that it was incorporated into Israel’s public worship at an early date. While we may assume Davidic authorship, the specific circumstances for its composition, revealing the divine com plaint against the sons of men (v. 2) and against the many who say “Who will show us any good?” (v. 6) are now lost. Traditionally, commentators have connected this psalm with Absalom’s revolt, also the background for Psalm 3. Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 46–47.

The movement of thought in this psalm is from confidence that God hears and answers (vv. 1–3), to our calling to trust in the Lord (vv. 4–5), a confession of faith in Him (vv. 5–8), and gladness in His presence that allows us to sleep in safety. Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 47.

Verses 1-3

1 Peter 3:12 “12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Righteousness

Wow, ‘righteousness’ is definitely a concepts that is miss-understood within Christianity today.

We are able to know that God is purely righteous due to us observing His consistent and absolute action.

IMPORTANT — God is His own standard of righteousness!!!

It is measured by His own rule!

God has declared that ‘righteousness’ is determined by relationship.

Matthew 23:28 “28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

Turn to — Matthew 5

Turn to — Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Matthew 25:46 “46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

Romans 9:30 “30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.”

“My Righteousness”

It was God who made a covenant with David.

God had covenanted with David his throne forever.

All true righteousness comes from God’s Sovereign initiative!!!

Remember, our is ‘filthy rags.’

“O God of my righteousness”

Jesus; the final gift of righteousness.

Question — why fulfilling work of Jesus positions Him to be our righteouness? (ANS — He fulfilled God’s law in perfect obedience)

2 Cor. 5:21 “21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

“Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress”

Enlarged could easily be translated “relieve”

Let’s think about the words “distress” and “enlarged.”

Distress - comes from a root word that denotes to be “restricted.”

God “relieves” or “enlarges” one by removing the current restriction.

Thank God for past moments of His answering prayer!

David is speaking with confidence based on that very reality.

He is speaking from a confident faith based on past answered prayers.

This is something Satan wants us to quickly forget!!!

(v2) This is talking about God’s glory either God directly speaking about himself or through David’s glory as king.

Our society is no different today!

They care more about the “image” rather than the “substance.”

Example: Magazines titled, People, Money, and self.

Example: Our “hype”–generation seems to want to be deceived by extravagant claims. Coffee, a stimulant, is sold to calm our nerves. Cancer-causing cigarettes are brand-named “Life.” God is still asking, “How long … How long?” Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 49.

(v3) David is speaking to the natural flow of God being his righteousness; God has also “set him apart.”

David is declaring that following justification, there is nothing more important than God’s sanctifying work on his life.

David is leaning into the reality of God’s sanctifying work as his assurance of God hearing him when he calls.

Verses 4-5

As you will see, David is preparing us for his personal claim in verse 8.

“Stand in awe (to rage), and sin not”

Eph. 4:26 “26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

Question — Have you ever went to bed with anger that has yet to be expressed?

Why does a Christian get angry? Well, God gets angry.

Due to His holiness, when he encounters our unholiness, He gets angry.

For you to express your anger toward sin, you are identifying with God’s holiness.

We have two option of releasing this anger:

On the person who has committed the sin (or)

Releasing it to God and then freeing us to live in rest.

“Commune with your own heart upon your bed”

Once we reach our bed, the majority of our decisions, actions, reaction, etc. lie ahead of us.

David is encouraging us to take time to think, reflect, consider.

“Be still”

If you and I are doing all the thinking and talking, we are not listening and receiving.

Give God moments of silence to bring things to your mind and heart.

(v5) “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness”

(Offer) = Of course, this is speaking to ritual sacrifice; animal.

Probably speaking to the sacrifice of joy and praise.

Psalm 27:6 “6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.”

Hebrews 13:15 “15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

The Word of God always leads us to the worship of God.

This brings us to easily put out “trust in the Lord.”

“Put your trust in the Lord”

We should see this as “throwing” one’s self upon Jesus!

John 13:23 “23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.”

Verses 6-8

The world will say, ‘Who will show us any good?’

The cry to “show good,” however, is not to be met here by promises of material prosperity, technological breakthroughs, or human compassion. The cry is met by a call: “Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.” The ultimate good is no relative human advance. It is the goodness of God—His presence, the light of His countenance. Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 51.

1 John 1:5 “5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

John 8:12 “12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Light communicates holiness, purity, and majesty, and light reveals. God is light both in His character as holy and in His person as revealer. Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 52.

“Gladness in my heart” is speaking of God’s grace.