Reflection
Psalm 4
Psalm 4
Revised Standard Version
Confident Plea for Deliverance from Enemies.
4 Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
Thou hast given me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2 O men, how long shall my honour suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, but sin not;
commune with your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
Lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, O LORD!”
7 Thou hast put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for thou alone, O LORD, makest me dwell in safety.
This is very much a Psalm of contrasts. King David is in trouble with his enemies. He “sort of” believes that God will look after him, because that’s what’s happened in various past situations. But he’s angry – angry with those who oppress him, trying to malign him, telling lies. And perhaps angry with God for allowing thee things to happen to him - again!
Who is saying “Be angry but sin not”? Is it David speaking to those who are attacking him ? Is it God speaking to David ? Being angry is a human emotion that needs to be controlled – remember that next time you’re listening to the news! “Commune with your own hearts” means that we should think things over without giving vent to unprocessed emotions. Be silent is not just for the teacher to say in the classroom, but something for us all. We can say, with David, ‘offer right sacrifices’, we can remind one another to ‘trust in the Lord’, even if that sometimes seems a bit like pious nonsense. Certainly, if we are angry with other people, for whatever excuse, God gives us the same message. Think it over, be silent, trust in God, for He is the One waiting to bless us.
Next comes a bit of scoffing. The implication of verse 6 is that people want to see God doing good - if there is a God. Again, who is asking the question, the believer or the unbeliever? Please, God, if you’re there, let us see you at work, doing good. The world can be a horrible place – and if we think that, consider how much that must grieve the Creator God who made everything good. But remember, God loved the world so much …… read John 3:16 for yourself.
Many times from a child to an adult to a ruler, David had experienced God’s goodness and care. Now was to be no different.
Whatever our current circumstances, may verse 8 be a prayer of faith for us all.
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