Psalm 4:2-9

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 4:6-8

We have here, I. The foolish wish of worldly people: There be many that say, Who will show us any good? Who will make us to see good? What good they meant is intimated, Ps. 4:7. It was the increase of their corn and wine; all they desired was plenty of the wealth of this world, that they might enjoy abundance of the delights of sense. Thus far they are right, that they are desirous of good and solicitous about it; but there are these things amiss in this wish:?1. They enquire, in general, ?Who... 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

John Gill

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

Stand in awe, and sin not ,.... That is, stand in awe of God, and his righteous, judgments; be afraid of him, and tremble before him; make him your fear and your dread, and go on no longer and proceed no further in sinning against him. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, render it, "be ye angry, and sin not": which are the words of the apostle, Ephesians 4:26 ; referring to this place; and which doubtless is the reason of these versions. There is an anger... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 4:5

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness ,.... Offer for sacrifice things righteously gotten, for the Lord hates robbery for burnt offering, Isaiah 61:8 . Some respect may be had to the unrighteous acquisitions of Absalom and his men, and who were now in possession of Jerusalem, and of the altars of the Lord, and were sacrificing on them; in which they gloried; and to which this may be opposed. Likewise sacrifices of righteousness are such as were according to the law, and were offered in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 4:6

There be many that say, who will show us any good ?.... These may be thought to be the men of the world; carnal worldly minded men, seeking after temporal good, and taking up their rest and contentment in it; to whom the psalmist opposes his wish and request, in the following words. Or these are the words of the men that were along with David, wishing themselves at home and in their families, enjoying the good things of life they before had; or rather these are the words of the same... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 4:7

Thou hast put gladness in my heart ,.... The Ethiopic version reads it "into our heart"; in granting the above request; for, nothing so rejoices the hearts of God's people as the light of his countenance, or the enjoyment of his gracious presence: this was matter of exceeding joy to Christ himself, Psalm 21:6 ; and so it is to all his members; this causes inward gladness, gladness of heart, and is opposed to the external rejoicings of wicked men and of hypocrites: and this is of God's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 4:8

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep ,.... Signifying, that he had such a calmness and serenity of mind, amidst all his troubles, that he could not only lay himself down in great peace, and much composure of mind, but sleep also, and that as soon as laid down almost; some lay themselves down, but cannot sleep, through the anxiety of their minds; but the psalmist could do both: or the word rendered "both" may he translated "together" F21 יחדו "simul", Musculus, Junius &... 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

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