Psalm Four.
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah
3 Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord will hear when I call to him.
4 In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the Lord.
6 Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?”
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.
7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
[Endnote 1]
Background and Theme.
This Psalm has been called an “Evening Psalm” and many scholars believe that this Psalm is connected to Psalm Three [Endnote 2]. “In a time of distress, David finds peace, gladness, sound sleep, and security in the Lord who hears his prayer”. [Endnote 3]
Psalm Four has structure that matches it’s overall all theme [Endnote 4]:
A — Prayer
1 Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
B — Enemies
2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?Selah
C — Exhortation to service
3 Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord will hear when I call to him.
4 In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the Lord.
B — Enemies
6 Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?”
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.
A — Prayer
7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
The Impact.
David starts off this psalm with a strong appeal that God “answer” him when he “calls” on Him. The Hebrew construction of these two words is qara’ ‘anah and it is so intense and so strong that to use this phrase David is demanding an answer be given to him [Endnote 5]. Further evidence of this is found when you see how David completes this thought when he wrote, “the Lord will hear when I call to him” [Endnote 6]. David had such a close relationship with God that he could call out to Him and he knew an answer would come.
Another word that stuck out to me in this text is the Hebrew word rä·khav’ which translates literally as “to make large” or “to enlarge”. In English this word is translated as to give “relief” but David was calling to God to give urgent help! The urgency was so because David felt the problems pressing him down. These pressures were so intense David felt as though he couldn’t breath. So David calls out and asks God for rä·khav’ or some “breathing room” [Endnote 7] in order to live!
The final thought that impacted me from David’s words is the fact that God can be trusted whole heartedly. David says that he will be able to sleep knowing that God will provide him beh'takh or safety as it is translated in the text. Beh’takh can be translated as “freedom from anxiety or fear”. This made it possible for David to sleep in “shalom” or peace. This word is powerful because it means that God can make us “whole” or “complete”
David was being robbed of so many things:
safety,
sleep,
comfort,
and a home.
David was being attacked and pursued from every side. His own son was trying to kill him. Everything that could go wrong did. David finds safety in God alone. Enjoying every blessing that comes with it as well. May you find peace in God knowing that He can complete anything that is lacking within you.
Grace and Peace,
Geraldo
_______________________
Endnotes:
1. The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.
2. Nichol, Francis D., ed. The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary. Vol. 3. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1977. Print.
3. Dybdahl, Jon L., ed. Andrews Study Bible Notes. Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2010. Print.
4. Witthoff, David, Kristopher A. Lyle, and Matt Nerdahl. Psalms Form and Structure. Ed. Eli Evans. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2014. Print.
5. Schauerte (Barteldrees), G. et al. “קָרָא.” Ed. G. Johannes Botterweck, Helmer Ringgren, and Heinz-Josef Fabry. Trans. David E. Green. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament 2004 : 109–135. Print. 15 vols.
6. Verse 3.
7. Bartelmus, R. “רָחַב.” Ed. G. Johannes Botterweck, Helmer Ringgren, and Heinz-Josef Fabry. Trans. David E. Green. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament 2004 : 427–437. Print. 15 vols.
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