Psalm 4:2-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 4:1-5

The title of the psalm acquaints us that David, having penned it by divine inspiration for the use of the church, delivered it to the chief musician, or master of the song, who (according to the divine appointment of psalmody made in his time, which he was chiefly instrumental in the establishment of) presided in that service. We have a particular account of the constitution, the modelling of the several classes of singers, each with a chief, and the share each bore in the work, 1 Chron.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 4:2

O ye sons of men ,.... Meaning great men, the nobles of Israel; and so the Jewish interpreters F11 Jarchi, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, & Ben Melech in loc. generally explain it; such as Ahithophel, and others, who were in the conspiracy with Absalom, 2 Samuel 15:12 , and so they were the kings and princes of the earth, and the rulers of the Jewish sanhedrim, the chief priests and elders, who were the enemies of Christ; and such, generally speaking, have been the persecutors of the saints;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 4:3

But know ,.... Take notice of it, consider it, be assured of the truth, of it; it may be depended upon as fact, that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself : which may be understood of David himself, an holy good man; a man after God's own heart; whom the Lord chose, and in a marvellous manner separated from the rest of his brethren; took him from the sheepfold, and set him upon the throne of Israel, for the glory of his great name; and therefore the attempts of his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 4:2

O ye sons of men - איש בני beney ish , ye powerful men - ye who are now at the head of affairs, or who are leaders of the multitude. Love vanity - The poor, empty, shallow-brained, pretty-faced Absalom; whose prospects are all vain, and whose promises are all empty! Seek after leasing? - This is a Saxon word, from falsehood, from to lie. Cardmarden has adopted this word in his translation, Rouen, 1566. It is in none of the Bibles previously to that time, nor in any after, as far... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 4:3

The Lord hath set apart him that is godly - חסיד chasid , the pious, benevolent man. He has marked such, and put them aside as his own property. "This merciful man, this feeling, tender-hearted man, is my own property; touch not a hair of his head!" read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 4:2

Verse 2 2.O ye sons of men. The happy result of the prayer of David was, that resuming courage, he was able not only to repel the fury of his enemies, but also to challenge them on his part, and fearlessly to despise all their machinations. That our confidence, therefore, may remain unshaken, we ought not, when assailed by the wicked, to enter into conflict without being furnished like David with the same armor. The sum is, that since God was determined to defend David by his own power, it was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 4:3

Verse 3 3.Know that Jehovah hath set apart, etc This is a confirmation of the preceding verse, for it shows that the cause of David’s boldness consisted in this, that he depended upon God, the founder of his kingdom. And surely we may then safely triumph over our enemies when we are assured of having the call of God to the office which we hold, or the work in which we are engaged. Accordingly, David does not here boast of his own strength, or riches, or armies by which he obtained the kingdom.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 4:1-5

A cry for deliverance. This psalm refers (according to some) to the same event as the previous psalm—that composed probably in the morning, and this in the evening, of the same day. We have in it— I. A CRY FOR DELIVERANCE FROM THE UPRIGHTEOUS PLOTS OF HIS ENEMIES . The appeal is based upon two facts. 1 . His relation and fellowship with the righteous God. Thou art my God, and the God of my righteous cause, and therefore thou wilt not leave me to the wicked... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 4:1-8

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 4:1-8

An evening song in perilous times, showing us the secret of happiness. It is not difficult to be cheerful when we have everything we desire. But when life seems to be a series of catastrophes, disappointments, and vexations, buoyancy of spirit is not so easily attained. If our lives were in peril every moment through rebellion at home and plots and snares around, few of us would be found capable, under such circumstances, of writing morning and evening hymns. Yet such were the... read more

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