Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 4

Hear me when I call - When I pray. The word “hear” in such cases is always used in the sense of “listen to,” “hear favorably,” or “attend to;” therefore, in the literal sense, it is always true that God “hears” all that is said. The meaning is, “hear and answer me,” or grant me what I ask.

O God of my righteousness - That is, O my righteous God. This is a common mode of expression in Hebrew. Thus, in Psalms 2:6, “hill of my holiness,” meaning “my holy hill;” and in Psalms 3:4, “his hill of holiness,” meaning “his holy hill.” The psalmist here appeals to God as “his” God—the God in whom he trusted—and as a “righteous” God—a God who would do what was right, and on whom, therefore, he might rely as one who would protect his own people. The appeal to God as a righteous God implies a conviction in the psalmist’s mind of the justice of his cause, and he asks God merely to do “right” in the case.

It is not on the ground of his own claim as a righteous man, but it is that, in this particular case, he was wrongfully persecuted; and he asks God to intervene and to cause justice to be done. This is always a proper ground of appeal to God. A man may be aware that in a particular case he has justice on his side, though he has a general conviction that he himself is a sinner; and he may pray to God to cause his enemies to do right, or to lead those whose office it is to decide the case, to do what ought to be done to vindicate his name or to save him from wrong.

Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress - That is, on some former occasion. When he was “pressed” or “confined,” and knew not how to escape, God had intervened and had given him room, so that he felt free. He now implores the same mercy again. He feels that the God who had done it in former troubles could do it again, and he asks him to repeat his mercy. The prayer indicates confidence in the power and the unchangeableness of God, and proves that it is right in our prayers to recall the former instances of divine intervention as an argument, or as a ground of hope, that God would again intervene.

Have mercy upon me - In my present troubles. That is, Pity me, and have compassion on me, as you have done in former times. Who that has felt the assurance that God has heard his prayer in former times, and has delivered him from trouble, will not go to God with the more confident assurance that God will hear him again?

O you sons of men - Turning from God to men; from Him in whom he hoped for protection to those who were engaged in persecuting him. We are not, of course, to suppose that they were present with him, but this is an earnest, poetic remonstrance, “as if” they were with him.

The reference is doubtless to Absalom and his followers. He calls them “sons of men” as having human feelings, passions, and purposes, in strong distinction from that righteous God to whom he had just made his solemn appeal.

God was holy, true, and just, and he might appeal to Him. They were ambitious and wicked, and from them he had nothing to hope. He looked upon God as righteous altogether; he looked upon them as altogether depraved and wicked. God he regarded as his just Protector; them he regarded as seeking only to wrong and crush him.

How long - The phrase used here might refer either to “time” or to “extent.” How long in regard to “time”—or to what “degree” or “extent” will you thus persecute me? The former, however, seems to be the true meaning.

Will you turn my glory into shame - My honor, or what befits my rank and station. If this refers to the rebellion in the time of Absalom, the allusion is to the fact that his enemies were endeavoring to rob him of his scepter and his crown, and to reduce him to the lowest condition of beggary and want; and he asks with earnestness how long they intended to do him so great injustice and wrong.

Will you love vanity - Compare the notes at Psalms 2:1. That is, how long will you act as if you were in love with a vain and impracticable thing, a thing which “must” be hopeless in the end? The idea is that God had chosen him, anointed him, and had determined that he should be king (Psalms 4:3), and therefore, their efforts “must be” ultimately unsuccessful. The object at which they were aiming could not be accomplished, and he asks how long they would thus engage in what must, from the nature of the case, be fruitless.

And seek after leasing - The word “leasing” is the Old English word for “lie.” The idea here is that they were pursuing a course which would yet prove to be a delusion—the hope of overturning his throne. The same question, in other respects, may be asked now. Men are seeking that which cannot be accomplished, and are acting under the influence of a lie. What else are the promises of permanent happiness in the pursuits of pleasure and ambition? What else are their attempts to overthrow religion and virtue in the world?

Selah - See the notes at Psalms 3:2.

But know — This is addressed to those whom, in the previous verse, he had called the “sons of men;” that is, his foes. This is designed to show them that their opposition to him must be vain, since God had determined to set him apart for his own service and would, therefore, hear his prayer for relief and protection.

That the Lord hath set apart — That Yahweh had done this; that is, that he had designated him to accomplish a certain work, or that he regarded him as an instrument to perform it. He would, therefore, protect him whom he had thus appointed; and their efforts were really directed against Yahweh himself, and must be vain.

Him that is godly for himself — For his own purposes, or to accomplish his own designs. The reference is here undoubtedly to the psalmist himself; that is, to David. The word “godly,” as applied to himself, is probably used in contrast with his enemies as being engaged in wicked designs, namely, in rebellion, and in seeking to dispossess him of his lawful throne. The psalmist felt that his cause was a righteous cause, that he had done nothing to deserve this treatment at their hands, and that he had been originally exalted to the throne because God regarded him as a friend of himself and of his cause, and because he knew that he would promote the interests of that cause.

The word here rendered “godly,” חסיד châsı̂yd — is derived from חסד chesed — which means desire, ardor, zeal; and then kindness, benignity, love toward God or man. Here the word properly denotes one who has love to God, or one who is truly pious; and it is correctly rendered “godly.” (Psalms 31:23; Psalms 37:28). The idea is, that as God had appointed him for his own great purposes, the real aim of the rebels was to oppose Yahweh; and the purposes in which they were engaged could not, therefore, be successful.

The Lord will hear when I call unto him — As I am engaged in his service; as I am appointed to accomplish a certain purpose for him, I may confidently believe that he will hear me and will deliver me out of their hands. Is not this always the true ground of encouragement to pray — that if God has a purpose to accomplish by us he will hear our prayer, and save us from danger, and deliver us out of the hand of our enemies? And should not this be the main design in our prayers — that God would thus spare us that we may accomplish the work which he has given us to do?

Stand in awe—Still addressed to those who in (Psalms 4:2) are called “sons of men;” that is, to his enemies. This is rendered by Prof. Alexander, “Rage and sin not.” The Aramaic Paraphrase renders it, “Tremble before him, and sin not.” The Latin Vulgate, “Irascimini”—“be angry.” The Septuagint ὀργίζεσθε καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε orgizesthe kai mē hamartanete, “Be ye angry, and sin not”—a rendering which Paul seems to have had in his eye in (Ephesians 4:26), where the same language is found.

It is not necessary, however, to suppose that, in this case, or by so quoting this language, Paul meant to give his sanction to the Septuagint translation of the passage. The truth doubtless is, that he found this language in that version, and that he quoted it, not as a correct translation, but as exactly expressing an idea which he wished to convey—in the same way as he would have quoted an expression from a Greek classic.

It was made to convey an inspired sentiment by his use of it; whether it was a fair translation of the original Hebrew was another question. For the meaning of the sentiment, see the notes at (Ephesians 4:26). The original word here—רגז râgaz—means to be moved, disturbed, disquieted, thrown into commotion; and as this may be by anger, fear, or grief, so the word comes to be used with reference to any one of these things. —Gesenius, Lexicon.

The connection here would seem to require that it should be understood with reference to “fear”—since we cannot suppose that the writer would counsel them to be moved or agitated by wrath or anger, and since there was no ground for exhorting them to be moved by grief. The true idea is, doubtless, that which is conveyed in our translation—that they were to fear; to stand in awe; to reflect on the course which they were pursuing, and on the consequences of that course, and by so doing to cease from their plans, and to sin no further.

God had determined to protect him whom they were engaged in persecuting, and, in prosecuting their plans, they must come into conflict with His power, and be overcome. The counsel, therefore, is just such as may properly be given to all men who are engaged in executing plans of evil.

And sin not—That is, by continuing to prosecute these plans. Your course is one of rebellion against Yahweh, since he has determined to protect him whom you are endeavoring to drive from his throne, and any further prosecution of your schemes must be regarded as additional guilt. They had indeed sinned by what they had already done; they would only sin the more unless they abandoned their undertaking.

Commune with your own heart—Hebrew: “Speak with your own heart;” that is, consult your own “heart” on the subject, and be guided by the result of such a deliberation. The language is similar to what we often use when we say, “Consult your better judgment,” or “Consult your feelings,” or “Take counsel of your own good sense;” as if a man were divided against himself, and his passions, his ambition, or his avarice, were contrary to his own better judgment.

The word “heart” here is used in the sense in which we now use it as denoting the seat of the affections, and especially of right affections; and the meaning is, “Do not take counsel of, or be influenced by, your head, your will, your passions, your evil advisers and counselors; but consult your own better feelings, your generous emotions, your sense of right, and act accordingly.” People would frequently be much more likely to do right if they would consult their “hearts” as to what should be done than they are in following the counsels which actually influence them. The secret, silent teachings of the “heart”—the heart when unbiased and uninfluenced by bad counselors—is often our best and safest guide.

Upon your bed—Admirable advice to those who are engaged in plans of wickedness. In the silence of night; in solitary musings on our bed; when withdrawn from the world, and from all the promptings of passion and ambition, and when, if at any time, we cannot but feel that the eye of God is upon us, the mind is most likely to be in a proper state to review its plans, and to inquire whether those plans can be expected to meet the divine approbation.

And be still—When you are thus quiet, reflect on your doings. For a most beautiful description of the effect of night and silence in recalling wicked men from their schemes, see (Job 33:14–17). Compare the notes at that passage.

Selah—This, as explained in the notes at (Psalms 3:2), marks a musical pause. The pause here would well accord with the sense, and would most happily occur after the allusion to the quiet communion on the bed, and the exhortation to be still.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness - Offer righteous sacrifices; that is, sacrifices prompted by right motives, and in accordance with the prescriptions in the law of God. This appears to be addressed also to those who in (Psalms 4:2) are called sons of men; that is, those who were arrayed against the psalmist. According to the common opinion this psalm was composed by David on occasion of his being driven from his throne and kingdom; and, of course, Zion, the ark, and the tabernacle, were in the hands of his enemies. The exhortation here may be, either that, as his enemies were now in possession of the usual seat of public worship, they would conduct the worship of God by keeping up the regular daily sacrifice; or, more probably, it means that in view of their sins, particularly in this rebellion, and as the result of the calm reflection to which he had exhorted them in (Psalms 4:4), they should now manifest their repentance, and their purpose to turn to God, by presenting to him an appropriate sacrifice.

They were sinners. They were engaged in an unholy cause. He exhorts them to pause, to reflect, to turn to God, and to bring a sacrifice for their sins, that their guilt might be blotted out.

And put your trust in the Lord - That is, turn from your evil ways, and confide in God in all his arrangements, and submit to him. Compare (Psalms 2:12).