1 [[To the chief Musician H5329 on Neginoth, H5058 A Psalm H4210 of David.]] H1732 Hear H6030 me when I call, H7121 O God H430 of my righteousness: H6664 thou hast enlarged H7337 me when I was in distress; H6862 have mercy H2603 upon me, and hear H8085 my prayer. H8605
2 O ye sons H1121 of men, H376 how long H5704 will ye turn my glory H3519 into shame? H3639 how long will ye love H157 vanity, H7385 and seek H1245 after leasing? H3577 Selah. H5542
3 But know H3045 that the LORD H3068 hath set apart H6395 him that is godly H2623 for himself: the LORD H3068 will hear H8085 when I call H7121 unto him.
4 Stand in awe, H7264 and sin H2398 not: commune H559 with your own heart H3824 upon your bed, H4904 and be still. H1826 Selah. H5542
5 Offer H2076 the sacrifices H2077 of righteousness, H6664 and put your trust H982 in the LORD. H3068
6 There be many H7227 that say, H559 Who will shew H7200 us any good? H2896 LORD, H3068 lift thou up H5375 the light H216 of thy countenance H6440 upon us.
7 Thou hast put H5414 gladness H8057 in my heart, H3820 more than in the time H6256 that their corn H1715 and their wine H8492 increased. H7231
8 I will both H3162 lay me down H7901 in peace, H7965 and sleep: H3462 for thou, LORD, H3068 only H910 makest me dwell H3427 in safety. H983
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 4
Commentary on Psalms 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 4
David was a preacher, a royal preacher, as well as Solomon; many of his psalms are doctrinal and practical as well as devotional; the greatest part of this psalm is so, in which Wisdom cries to men, to the sons of men (as Prov. 8:4, 5), to receive instruction. The title does not tell us, as that of the former did, that it was penned on any particular occasion, nor are we to think that all the psalms were occasional, though some were, but that many of them were designed in general for the instruction of the people of God, who attended in the courts of his house, the assisting of their devotions, and the directing of their conversations: such a one I take this psalm to be. Let us not make the prophecy of scripture to be of more private interpretation than needs must, 2 Pt. 1:20. Here
To the chief musician on Neginoth. A psalm of David.
Psa 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 Chr. 25. Some prophesied according to the order of the king, v. 2. Others prophesied with a harp, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, v. 3. Of others it is said that they were to lift up the horn, v. 5. But of them all, that they were for song in the house of the Lord (v. 6) and were instructed in the songs of the Lord, v. 7. This psalm was committed to one of the chiefs, to be sung on neginoth-stringed instruments (Hab. 3:19), which were played on with the hand; with music of that kind the choristers were to sing this psalm: and it should seem that then they only sung, not the people; but the New-Testament appoints all Christians to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), from whom it is expected that they do it decently, not artfully; and therefore there is not now so much occasion for musical instruments as there was then: the melody is to be made in the heart. In these verses,
In singing these verses we must preach to ourselves the doctrine of the provoking nature of sin, the lying vanity of the world, and the unspeakable happiness of God's people; and we must press upon ourselves the duties of fearing God, conversing with our own hearts, and offering spiritual sacrifices; and in praying over these verses we must beg of God grace thus to think and thus to do.
Psa 4:6-8
We have here,
In singing these verses, and praying over them, let us, with a holy contempt of the wealth and pleasure of this world, as insufficient to make us happy, earnestly seek the favour of God and pleasingly solace ourselves in that favour; and, with a holy indifferency about the issue of all our worldly concerns, let us commit ourselves and all our affairs to the guidance and custody of the divine Providence, and be satisfied that all shall be made to work for good to us if we keep ourselves in the love of God.