Bible Commentaries
Psalms 4

Introduction

Psalms 4:0

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

BRIEF OUTLINE

A. Opening prayer to God, Psalms 4:1

B. Address to opponents, Psalms 4:2-3

C. Commands for an appropriate response to God, Psalms 4:4-5

D. Closing prayer to God, Psalms 4:6-8

Verse 1

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 4:1 1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

Psalms 4:1 Notice the imperatives used to implore God.

1. answer me BDB 772, KB 851, Qal imperative, cf. Psalms 27:7

2. be gracious to me BDB 335, KB 334, Qal imperative, cf. Psalms 25:16; Psalms 69:16

3. hear my prayer BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal imperative, cf. Psalms 17:6; Psalms 39:12

The psalmist expects God to hear and act (cf. Psalms 3:4; Psalms 6:8, Psalms 6:9; Psalms 17:6; Psalms 86:7)! Prayer is not only request, it is fellowship! We need Him even more than our answered requests!

▣ Notice how the psalmist characterizes God.

1. O God of my righteousness (see Special Topic: Righteousness)

2. O God, reliever of my distress

There are so many personal pronouns in these first two verses! YHWH is the only source of “righteousness,” which brings peace (both physically and spiritually)!

NASB, NKJV“relieved me” NRSV, LXX“gave me room” NJB“set me at large” JPSOA, REB“freed me”

The Hebrew word (BDB 931, KB 1210, Hiphil perfect) is an idiom for a wide space (cf. Psalms 18:19), the opposite of “restriction” (i.e., oppression, tribulation, narrow straights, BDB 865, “distress”). Its metaphorical nature can be seen in Genesis 26:22; Deuteronomy 33:20; Psalms 25:17; Isaiah 54:2; Isaiah 57:8.

Verses 2-3

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 4:2-3 2O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah. 3But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; The Lord hears when I call to Him.

Psalms 4:2 The author develops the antagonistic setting by two questions directed to those who oppose.

1. reproach/shame BDB 484

2. worthless/vain words BDB 938

3. deception/lies BDB 469

As God is called “my righteousness” in Psalms 4:1, now He is called on to reveal the attitude, motives, and actions of those who would do the psalmist harm.

NASB“my honor become a reproach” NKJV“my glory to shame” NJB“heavy of heart”

The NJB follows the LXX, which apparently translated a different Hebrew text than the MT. The UBS Text Project (p. 165) gives the MT a “C” rating (considerable doubt).

▣ “Selah” See note at Psalms 3:2.

Psalms 4:3 How should the opponents respond to the psalmist's questions of Psalms 4:2?

1. know (Qal imperative) that the Lord has set apart (LXX, “has done wondrous things for His holy one,” cf. NJB, NEB) the godly man for Himself (UBS Text Project gives an “A” rating [very high probability])

2. the Lord hears the godly man (BDB 339) when he prays

YHWH knows and responds to His true followers. An attack on them is an attack on Him!

Verses 4-5

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 4:4-5 4Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the Lord.

Psalms 4:4-5 There is a series of commands whereby the psalmist suggests how his opponents (i.e., “sons of men,” Psalms 4:2) should live.

1. tremble BDB 919, KB 1182, Qal imperative

2. do not sin BDB 306, KB 305, Qal imperfect used in a jussive sense

3. meditate (lit. speak) BDB 55, KB 65, Qal imperative, cf. Psalms 77:6

4. be still BDB 198, KB 226, Qal imperative

5. offer sacrifices BDB 256, KB 261, Qal imperative

6. trust in YHWH BDB 105, KB 120, Qal imperative, cf. Psalms 37:3; Psalms 62:8

Psalms 4:4 Number 2 above is quoted by Paul in Ephesians 4:26 in combination with Deuteronomy 24:15, as “be angry, and yet do not sin,” which is from the LXX. The MT has “tremble” which denotes “fear” (cf. Isaiah 32:11; Micah 7:17; Habakkuk 3:16), not anger.

▣ “be still” The word (BDB 198, KB 226) has several usages.

1. fear in battle Exodus 15:14-16

2. speechless in judgment 2 Samuel 2:9

3. silence in death Psalms 31:17; Psalms 94:17; Jeremiah 48:2; Jeremiah 49:26

4. shocked silence at destruction Jeremiah 25:37

5. silence of wisdom in an appropriate moment Psalms 4:4; Psalms 62:5; Psalms 131:2; Amos 5:13

▣ “Selah” See notes at Psalms 3:2.

Psalms 4:5 “trust in the Lord” This is a recurrent theme (BDB 105, KB 120).

1. a call to sinners Psalms 4:5

2. a call to the faithful Psalms 9:10; Psalms 32:10; Psalms 37:3, Psalms 37:5; Psalms 40:3; Psalms 55:23; Psalms 56:4, Psalms 56:11; Psalms 84:12; Psalms 91:2; Psalms 112:7; Psalms 115:11; Psalms 125:1; Psalms 143:8; Proverbs 16:20; Proverbs 29:25; Isaiah 26:3-4

3. the king Psalms 21:7; Psalms 25:2; Psalms 26:1; Psalms 28:7

4. the fathers Psalms 22:4-5

5. O people Psalms 62:8; Psalms 115:9

6. priests Psalms 115:10

It is trust in YHWH and His word that brings hope (cf. Psalms 4:3), joy (cf. Psalms 4:7), and peace (cf. Psalms 4:8) in this fallen world.

Verses 6-8

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 4:6-8 6Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord! 7You have put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound. 8In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.

Psalms 4:6-7 Like Psalms 4:2, Psalms 4:6 begins with a question which reflects the attitude, motives, and actions of the psalmist's opponents.

The answer is the request (Qal imperative) that YHWH “lift up the light of His countenance” (cf. Numbers 6:26; Numbers 6:26; Psalms 80:3, Psalms 80:7, Psalms 80:19). This is an idiom of Deity taking personal notice and extending mercy to His faithful (Psalms 4:5b) followers (cf. Psalms 27:1; Micah 7:8). YHWH has

1. put gladness in the psalmist's heart

2. put peace in the psalmist's heart

3. put safety in the psalmist's heart

In Numbers 6:26 the verb “lift up,” is אשנ, BDB 669, but here it is הסנ (KB 702). Apparently they are two forms of one root (cf. BDB 650, KB 702, NET Bible, p. 853, #6).

Psalms 4:7 “heart” See Special Topic below.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEART

▣ “new grain” The UBS Handbook (p. 47) mentions that the Hebrew MSS found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as the LXX and Vulgate, add “and olive oil” after “grain” and before “new wine,” which may come from Deuteronomy 7:13; Deuteronomy 11:14; Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 14:23; Deuteronomy 18:4; Deuteronomy 28:51.

▣ “new wine” See Special Topic below.

SPECIAL TOPIC: Biblical Attitudes Toward Alcohol (fermentation) and Alcoholism (addiction)

Psalms 4:8

NASB, NKJV NRSV, REV, NJB“For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety” NET, JPSOA (footnote)“For You, O Lord, keep me alone and secure”

The word “alone” (BDB 94) can modify

1. the Lord

2. the faithful follower who sleeps alone (i.e., no enemies present)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Who are “sons of men”? How are they characterized?

2. What are the different meanings of the Hebrew verb “know”?

3. Explain Psalms 4:4 in your own words.

4. Who are the “many” in Psalms 4:6?