Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 4

Hear me. —Better, In my crying hear me, God of my righteousness.

The conception of God as supremely just, and the assertor of justice, is one of the noblest legacies from the Hebrew faith to the world. It is summed up in the question, Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? The strength of the innocent in the face of calumny or oppression lies in the appeal to the eternal source of righteousness.

You have enlarged. —Better, in my straitness You (or, You who) have made room for me. This is a thought very common in the Psalter, and apparently was a favourite phrase of David’s, occurring in Psalms 18:19 , and in other psalms attributed to him.

Sons of men. —A literal rendering of a Hebrew phrase generally interpreted as “men of high degree.” Luther translates “gentlemen” , where it is “high,” as contrasted with “low.” (Compare to Psalms 62:9, “men of high degree.”)

How long? —Literally, how long to shame my glory? which, after the analogy of Psalms 37:26, his seed is for a blessing, must mean How long shall my glory be for shame (opprobrio) ? The Septuagint and Vulgate follow a different and probably correct reading: How long will you be heavy (or slow) of heart? They also indicate that an interrogative has dropped out before the second clause, so that it is rightly supplied by the Authorised Version.

Seek after. —In Hebrew the intensive conjugation, to seek earnestly, or again and again.

Leasing — i.e., lying. (Compare to Psalms 4:6.) So in Wycliffe’s New Testament: Whanne he speketh leesing, he speketh of his own; for he is a lere, and is fader of it (John 8:44). “Lesyngmongers” (1 Timothy 1:10). Chaucer uses the word; and it is common in Piers Ploughman. Shakespeare also knows the word:—

“Now Mercury indue you with leasing,
For you speak well of fools.”— Twelfth Night.

(See Bible Educator, iv. 3), Milton’s translation is—

“To love, to seek, to prize
Things false and vain, and nothing else but lies.”

For “Selah,” see Note, Psalms 3:2.

From this verse we gather that the report of the calumny uttered against him in Jerusalem had reached the king’s ears.

But know. —It is the privilege of true and heroic natures to rise to a consciousness of their strength and dignity in the hour of peril, and when they are victims of unjust persecution. Besides his innate greatness, David has a grandeur and dignity, derived from his deep sense of the covenant between God and His anointed, and his own imperfect but sincere endeavor to act worthily as God’s vice-regent on earth. His selection by Jehovah is an unanswerable reply to his calumniators, and the surest proof of his own uprightness.

Has set apart. —That is, has distinguished or honored. The Septuagint and Vulgate rightly render it this way. The Hebrew word occurs in Exodus 8:22; Exodus 9:4; Exodus 11:7, referring to the severance between Israel and Egypt. .

Godly. —Heb. chasîd, properly, graced or gracious, depending on whether it is used in reference to Israel or to the God of Israel. The covenant relationship is more prominent in the word than a moral excellence, though this is presupposed. See Psalm 1:5, where the word appears to be defined. There is a difficulty in the construction: lô (to him) may go either with the verb or the object. By comparison with Psalm 17:7, we take it with the latter. Septuagint, “his holy one.”

Stand in awe. —Literally, tremble, whether with fear or anger. But the rendering of the Septuagint, be angry (Ephesians 4:26), though etymologically correct, is plainly inadmissible here. (See New Testament Commentary.)

Commune — i.e., reflect on your conduct; let the still hours of the night bring calmer and wiser thoughts with them. The Septuagint and Vulgate translate “repent” instead of “be still.” This supposes the words to be addressed to the enemies. But the next verse makes this doubtful. Probably the clause is a general reflection on the proper conduct of Israelites when in trouble.

Sacrifices of righteousness. (Deuteronomy 33:19). The context in both places directs to the translation “right” or “due” sacrifices, that is, sacrifices duly and religiously performed.