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Last updated 11.30om Sunday 4 October 2026 (BAF).
Sunday 4 October 2026
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Psalm 4 – Answer me, when I call
Psalm 4 – The first of the psalms to include with instructions for use
· To the choirmaster – a director of a choir – 55 psalms with this instruction
· with stringed instruments – required accompaniment – 7 psalms with this instruction
· A Psalm of David – closely related to Psalm 3 – shared vocabulary and theme – but not clear as to how closely this psalm relates directly to the historical setting of Psalm 3.
· References the Aaronic Blessing in Number 6:24-26 – ‘Be gracious to me and hear my prayer’ (4:1); ‘Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!’ (4:6)
An Exposition of Psalm 4
Conversation 1 – spoken to God (4:1) – ‘a confident prayer’
1. Prayer is always our first response – confidence that God will hear and answer prayer
2. ONLY God can truly vindicate David before his accusers, ‘God my righteousness’ – David makes no attempt to answer back, he turns to God
3. God has been faithful before e.g. Psalm 3 – ‘it is not to be imagined he who has helped us in six troubles will leave us in the seventh’ (CH Spurgeon)
4. David’s hope is in God’s promise to hear and answer his prayer, not in a change in circumstances! Whatever the answer, he will trust in God.
Conversation 2- spoken to the faithless (David’s enemies) (4:2-3) – ‘we must listen to what the king says to angry people’ (Christopher Ash). For those who oppose God’s anointed:
1. Their opposition to David will not last forever – ‘O men, how long …?’
2. Their desire to seek after things that seem valuable but are ultimately worthless is folly – ‘vain words and lies’ (4:2) – like those who ‘plot in vain’ (Ps. 2:1)
3. Their actions underestimate those who God has chosen – those who have placed their trust in God’s Law (Torah/Word) and his promises (Messiah) – ‘the godly’ have been set apart by God for himself (4:3). By going against those God has chosen they have gone against God! – has remained true for those who oppose all God’s people.
4. Their actions will ultimately fail as God always hears and answers the prayers of ‘the godly’ who he has set apart for himself – those who place their trust entirely in him – ‘What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?’ (Rom. 8:31)
Conversation 3 – spoken to the faithful (4:4-5) – do not respond to opposition by fighting fire with fire!
1. Don’t let your anger lead to sin – let God be judge of those who sin against us
2. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger – intentionally choose not to give anger the oxygen it needs to breathe. Resolve quickly to ‘take it to the Lord in prayer’
3. Do not worship the Lord with an angry heart – ‘offer right sacrifices’ (4:5)
4. Trust in God – our anger, pain, betrayal etc. are very real, and the Word of God does not belittle this, but only he who makes us right with him can judge sinners and vindicate those who he has chosen.
Conversation 4 – spoken again to God (4:6-7) – ‘the joy of the Lord is my strength’ (Neh. 8:10)
1. ‘there are many’ (4:6) - ‘many are my foes’ (Ps. 3:1) – those who rebel against God’s anointed want the blessings without having to submit to God’s authority – ‘give us the rewards, but we’re not giving anything back!’
2. Despite the severity of the opposition the King prays that God will bless the people (including those who have rebelled!) -
3. The world offers a good time without appearing to ask for anything in return! Ultimately it neither lasts nor satisfies, for what is offered is self-serving. Joy (real contentment and satisfaction) is found in God alone.
Prayer answered – Rest in Peace (4:8) – always safe in God.
1. To rest in the peace of God that passes all understanding – Phil. 4:4-7) – receiving it and sharing it – ‘strive for peace with everyone’ (Heb. 12:4) – ‘Peace is to be the goal of the Christian’s dealing with others’ (Tyndale Bible Dictionary)
2. To rest in the peace of death – as Jesus entered sleep of death and rose, so those who trust in God’s anointed one will enter the sleep of death and rise with Christ in the morning
Conclusion – Philippians 4:4-7 ‘is almost a commentary on this psalm’ (Christopher Ash)
‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 4:4-7)
This is what Psalm 4 teaches us concerning how those who are ‘the godly’ who have been ‘set apart’ by God for himself are to respond in every difficult situation.
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