Psalms 4

Psalms 4THEME: An evening prayer: the plea of the Son of man and those who plead in His nameThis brief psalm divides itself like this: a cryverses Psa_4:1-3; a correctionverses Psa_4:4-5; a confidenceverses Psa_4:6-8. The psalm has a musical inscription “To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.” Apparently a neginoth is some sort of instrument; it is the belief of many that it is a stringed instrument. Probably this psalm was played as a solo on a neginoth. The psalm begins with a great crythe refuge of the people of God in the time of trouble is always prayer. And God is their shield, as we have seen.

Psalms 4:1

Distress indicates pressurethe pressures of life are great. They are great in our day, and we need the encouragement that we find in the Word of God. “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth” (Psa_145:18). Again in Psa_50:15 we read, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” In Isa_65:24 God tells us, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Psa_18:6 is very personal: “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” In Psa_55:16 we are told, “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.” Psa_86:7 says, “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” Finally, Psa_91:15 says, “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” The Bible is just filled with these wonderful promises. The cry of the psalmist in Psalms 4 is that God be with him.

Psalms 4:2

Leasing is falsehood.

Psalms 4:3

How wonderful He is! God will hear our prayer. Then he gives two verses of correction, which is sort of a warning.

Psalms 4:4

Stand in awe is better translated tremble, and do not sin. We don’t see much trembling today.

Psalms 4:5

Paul expressed this thought to the Ephesian Christians: “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Eph_4:26). Now notice his confidence and the assurance of faith.

Psalms 4:6

Many folk say, “Nothing is right anymore.” How we need the Lord to lift up the light of His countenance upon us!

Psalms 4:7

David was like the rest of ushis heart failed in the time of trouble. Around him were unbelievers, his own people, who were mocking him, “God is not going to do anything for him.” But God did do something for him. “Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.” David found that God was good to him. And God is good to us, my friend. Notice how this evening psalm concludes:

Psalms 4:8

My friend, do you need a sleeping pill at night? Have you ever tried Psalms 4? It is lots better than any brand of sleeping pill you have used. Oh, how wonderful these psalms are for us today, and how much they will mean to God’s people in that coming day of trouble.