Psalm 4

1 Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
3 Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the LORD.
6 Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

Key verse:
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?

Key Outline:
1. v 1 The Petition
2. v 2 Sanctification improper
3. v 3 – 8 Sanctification proper

Key Observation:
This psalm is aimed at the wayward people under David. It has no particular timing attached to it; merely the note that it is for the director of music, perhaps to make a song out of. David notes his people are pursuing a wrong lifestyle, loving delusions and seeking false gods. He then corrects them by showing them his own personal sanctification.

Memory Verse:
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety.
Or in the NIV, (my favorite)
8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.

Devotion:
A.W. Tozer writes about prayer this way: “He hears and answers the prayers of those who walk in his way.” In a very short summation, that is what David is writing about in this psalm. The key verse is a question to David’s people as he looks upon their wasted lives. The people are turning the very glory of God into shame, loving delusions, and seeking false gods. For me to understand this key verse I need to remember that David lived in a time when his society was deeply pulled into false religions, the glitter of which even attracted the Jewish people. Some of these pagan religions even taught child-sacrifice. David is appalled when he sees all of the ungodliness. I should be appalled at the ungodliness of my day, not congratulating myself because of my tolerance, but rather speaking out as John the Baptist did against the sin of his day. Even the sight of ungodliness in others ought to make my skin cringe in utter repugnance, though always my goal should be to show others mercy, “hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

As Psalm 2 was addressed to the kings of the earth, this psalm is more addressed to those who should be God’s people, but who in all probability are not. In it David (and God through David) is adjuring the people to offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord. As they learn to do so they will find the bountiful provision of God (noted in v. 6). God rewards faith. God delights in faith. Faith is the one area where the saint can truly please God. I need to put away all the temporal things of this world and fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.

D. L. Moody observes: “I believe that if there is one thing which pierces the Master’s heart with unutterable grief, it is not the world’s iniquity, but the Church’s indifference.” Christ asks the question, “When the Son of Man returns, will he find faith on the earth?” It is your trust and mine he will look for at once. David had that trust. Do I? Do you? David trusted much for he says: I will lie down and sleep in peace,for you alone, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Blessed is the sleep of the man who knows his salvation is unalterably in the palm of his Saviour.