Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 4
Fourth PSALM.
David first speaks to God by prayer, and gaining comfort and confidence thereby, he then speaks to his enemies by advice, to leave off troubling him and themselves in vain, for that they should never be able to get his Kingdom from him, because God had given it to him, and would keep it for him, do what they could, and therefore admonisheth them not headily to persist in sinning by rebelling, but to advise with their pillow in a point of so great concernment and infallibility, and to desist and subject themselves to the will of God, so should they find pardon and favour with him, which would be better to them than all worldly happiness which they were so greedy of, and which for his part seeing he had done, he feared nothing.
To him that is most skilful upon the stringed instrument Neginoth to which this Psalm is chiefly set, Psalm. 4. To the chief musician on Neginoth. A Psalm of David.do I David that made it, recommend it, for the care and ordering of it in the Quire.
1 O Lord suffer much in thy quarrel,1HEar when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress, have merciemercy upon me, and hear my prayer. & am put to many straits, in all which I flie to thee, therefore good Lord hear my prayer in such cases: for though I my self be a sinner, yet I trust in thy righteousness, and make thee the judge of mine innocencie, of whose goodness I have had large experiences, for thou hast ever been faithful to deliver me out of all my dangers. And therefore I will still believe in thee, and pray to thee, that thou wilt continue thy merciemercy, as mine enemies continue their malice, and hear me still as they give me cause to crie to thee for help.
2O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glorie into shame? how long will ye love vanitie, and seek after leasing? Selah.2 O ye that are too weak to resist the Almighty, and as weak in understanding heavenly things, how long will you perversly refuse to give and acknowledge that honour which God hath designed to me, and will certainly fulfil in making me the Kingly type of the promised Messiah, and in that relation to submit unto me? Will you never be reclaimed? But still vainly seek to destroy Christs spiritual Kingdom by indeavouring to dispossess me of mine, which you shall never be able to compass, though you labour it never so, in hope to have it from me, but deceive your selves and lose your labour. I would you would take warning to seek the heavenly and not the earthly Kingdom which you are so greedie of.
3But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly, for himself; the Lord will hear when I call unto him.3 Indeed be advised, and know to save you further trouble, that I have not laboured to advance my self to this honour of a King for ambition sake, but it was God who had a favour to me for the grace sake he hath wrought in me, that hath designed me to this place and office wherein he is pleased to use me, and as he hath raised me to it, so will he never suffer me to be divested of it, but will be sure to relieve me, and give me the better of mine enemies, whensoever in my need I call upon him.
4 O that you would take my counsel to fear God,4Stand in aw, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. & not proudly & passionately go on in sinning against him by opposing your selves against me. Weigh but with your selves seriously the consequence of mine advice as to your everlasting welfare, and in cold bloud consider the strange providences that have thus far carried on the work of mine advancement to the Kingdom maugre mine enemies, and judge whether that do not promise as much as I prophecie, and whether it were not therefore best for you to give over and be quiet, I would you would consider it for your good.
5 Come,5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness: and put your trust in the Lord. be perswaded to submit and render your selves the righteous and obedient servants and subjects of the Lord, as a sacrifice due to him that deserves and expects it from you, and in so doing trust in the Lord for merciemercy and grace which you shall be sure to find, and trust not in your own power and policie to frustrate his will and pleasure.
6 How many gape after this worldly and outward prosperitie,6There be many that say, who will shew us any good? Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. and labour it tooth and nail, as if that were their chiefest good. But let me tell you the way to be happie indeed, is to get the grace and favour of God to belong unto you, this I for my part would have above all for me and mine to be happie by.
7 For,7Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. for my own part I am able to speak it to thy praise. That hereby O Lord thou hast more rejoyced my heart, than all the joyes under heaven could have done, the joy of harvest be it never so plentiful is nothing comparable to the shining of Gods favorable countenance through Christ upon the soul, and the assurance of his grace towards us in him.
8I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou Lord onelyonly makest me dwel in safetie.8 Yea I am so comforted with his favour, and confident of his faithfulness in protecting me, that all my troubles and dangers shall not disquiet me, but I can peaceably injoy my self and take my rest through faith in God. For whilest I have thee O Lord on my side, and that thou doest but thus fortifie my spirit with the assurance of thy faithfulness and favour, and keepest fresh in memorie thy former mercies in my manifold deliverances, be my case never so desperate, thou alone art securitie enough unto me.