John Calvin Commentary Psalms 4:2

"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" — Psalms 4:2 (ASV)

O you sons of men. The happy result of David's prayer was that, regaining courage, he was able not only to repel the fury of his enemies but also to challenge them in turn and fearlessly despise all their schemes. Therefore, so that our confidence may remain unshaken, we should not, when attacked by the wicked, enter into conflict without being equipped like David with the same armor.

In summary, since God was determined to defend David by His own power, it was futile for anyone in the world to try to destroy him, however great the power they might otherwise have to harm him. By calling those whom he addresses the sons not of Adam, or of some common persons, but of men, he seems, in passing, to rebuke their pride.

I do not agree with certain Jewish commentators who think that nobles or men of rank are intended. It is, rather, an ironic concession of what they claimed for themselves, through which he ridicules their presumption in considering themselves noble and wise, when in fact it was only blind rage that drove them to wicked undertakings.

In the words how long, he condemns their perverse obstinacy. For what he means is not that they were stirred up against him merely by some sudden impulses, but that the stubborn purpose of harming him was deeply fixed in their hearts. If their maliciousness had not deprived them of their understanding, the many instances in which God had proved Himself to be David’s defender would have compelled them to stop their attempts against him.

But as they were fully determined to disgrace him whom God had exalted to the royal throne, he asks them how long they will persevere in their efforts to turn his glory into shame.

And it should be noted that although burdened with every kind of reproach from both the high and the low, he still courageously holds fast to the glory or honor of royalty that God had graciously promised him or had conferred upon him. He is fully persuaded that God will eventually vindicate his right to it, however much his enemies might wickedly try to tarnish and obscure it by treating his claims with derision and scorn.

How long will you love vanity? In these words, he partly rebukes his enemies for the wicked and perverse passions by which he saw them driven, although they falsely pretended to be motivated by a godly zeal. He also partly derides their folly in flattering themselves with the hope of success while fighting against God.

And this is a most pointed rebuke. Even when the ungodly rush headlong into all kinds of wickedness with the most blatant malice, they soothe themselves with deceitful flatteries so as not to be disturbed by feelings of remorse. David, therefore, cries out that willfully shutting their eyes and varnishing their unrighteousness with deceitful colors will avail them nothing.

The ungodly may indeed flatter and delude themselves, but when they are truly brought to the trial, it will always be manifest that the reason they are deceived is that from the beginning they were determined to act deceitfully.

Now, from this passage, we should take a shield of invincible steadfastness whenever we see ourselves outmatched in prudence and subtlety by the wicked.

For with whatever devices they attack us, yet if we have the testimony of a good conscience, God will remain on our side, and they will not prevail against Him. They may greatly excel in ingenuity, possess much power to harm us, have their plans and auxiliary aid readily available, and be very shrewd in discernment; yet whatever they may invent, it will be nothing but lying and vanity.