Psalms 4:1

PSALM 4

EVENING PRAYER OF TRUST IN GOD

(FOR THE CHIEF MUSICIAN; ON STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A PSALM OF DAVID)

Psalms 4:1-2

"Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness;

Thou hast set me at large when I was in distress:

Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

O ye sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor?

How long will ye love vanity, and seek after falsehood? (Selah)"

Regarding the inscription, Matthew Henry observed that in the Old Testament, "All of the singing was done by the choristers, not by the people; but the New Testament appoints all Christians to sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)."[1] We also should point out that the use of instruments of music by the Jews constitutes no authority whatever for Christian use of them in the worship of God.

"God of my righteousness." Barnes understood this to mean, "O my righteous God";[2] but aside from the fact that there could be something in the Hebrew which justifies such an opinion, it appears to us that Matthew Henry gave a much more accurate meaning of the passage as it stands in our version.

Henry gave the meaning as, "God Himself is not merely a righteous God in his own right but He is also the author of my righteous disposition."[3] God is indeed the author of all the good that might be done by anyone.

"Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer." This is the dual petition which is the burden of this chapter. Note that the worshipper does not plead any merit or worthiness of his own but bases his petition upon the mercy of God.

"O ye sons of men." Some affirm that the meaning here is "great men." In any case, the passage assumes that man is a noble creature, endowed with reason, and other marvelous gifts of ability and intelligence, indicating that it is shamefully degrading to men themselves who refuse to honor and obey their Creator. Of course, they also dishonor, not merely themselves, but their God also.

"That love vanity and seek after falsehood." Those familiar with the KJV on this verse might be puzzled by the word leasing which appears here instead of falsehood. As Barnes said, "`Leasing' is the old English word for `a lie.'"[4] It is the evil genius of humanity that very frequently throughout their history they have, "Changed the truth of God for a lie and have worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." (Romans 1:25).

Chrysostom is credited with having said that if he had the privilege of preaching to all mankind at one time and that he could speak only once that it would be from this text.[6]

"Thou hast set me at large." Other versions render this: "thou hast given me room," and "thou hast freed me."[5]