Hi, Friend!

Welcome back to our weekly walk through the Book of Psalms. Today finds us in Psalm 4.

Psalm 4 is one of David’s psalms and, while it echoes many of the ideas and appeals of Psalm 3, it’s important to remember that the Book of Psalms is not organized in chronological order, so while this psalm discusses God’s protection from enemies, this psalm is not necessarily related to the conflict between David and his son Absalom. Reading through First and Second Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, we see that David and his kingdom were frequently under attack by enemies.

Because God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore, He doesn’t have to present the psalms in chronological order for them to teach and encourage us. Remembering this, I encourage you to look for ways Psalm 4 ties to Psalms 1, 2, and 3 beyond historical timeline.

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

1 Answer me when I call,
God, who vindicates me.
You freed me from affliction;
be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

2 How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted?
How long will you love what is worthless
and pursue a lie? Selah
3 Know that the Lord has set apart
the faithful for himself;
the Lord will hear when I call to him.
4 Be angry and do not sin;
reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent. Selah
5 Offer sacrifices in righteousness
and trust in the Lord.

6 Many are asking, “Who can show us anything good?”
Let the light of your face shine on us, Lord.

7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.

Let’s dig in:

In verse 1, we hear echoes of verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 3 as David praises God for His past faithfulness and petitions God to answer him again in his time of need.

In verse 2, David asks his enemies, other nobles or leaders according to my Bible footnotes, how long they will love what is useless and pursue a lie. We see this same plea from the psalmist(s) who wrote Psalm 1 and 2. Remember the psalmist’s statement in Psalm 1, verse 4, that the efforts of those who do not choose God are like chaff, useless, easily blown away? And in Psalm 2, verses 10 and 11, remember how the psalmist pleads with those who do not follow God to be wise and to serve the Lord? In this same way, David asks his enemies, how long will you keep choosing a useless way? How long will you believe the lie that the world’s way is better than God’s way?

In verse 3, David tells his enemies that God has set apart the faithful for Himself and that He hears when they call. We see this same truth in Psalm 1, verses 2 and 3, when the psalmist describes those who choose God as trees planted by the water, bringing forth fruit, protected in drought, prosperous in whatever they do. In Psalm 2, verse 12, the psalmist proclaims that those who put their trust in God are blessed. In Psalm 3, David describes these blessings as the ability to sleep even in times of conflict and to awake safely because God protects him.

Continuing to address his enemies in verses 4 and 5, David acknowledges their anger but instructs them not to sin. Instead, he says, they should reflect in silence, offer sacrifices to the Lord in righteousness and trust in the Lord. Here, we see David telling his enemies that there is a better way, God’s way. This is the way discussed in Psalms 1 and 2; the way of righteousness, the way of blessing.

And you know what? I see a “Selah” up there in verses 2 and 4, so let’s pause for a moment as the psalmist instructs and use the pause to reflect on a key point:

Be angry and do not sin.

Sweet friend, everyone gets angry from time to time. We all disagree sometimes. Experiencing anger is human, part of living in a world afflicted by sin. Anger can even have righteous roots. I’m reminded of Peter being angry about Jesus getting arrested. It wasn’t a sin to be upset at the injustice of Jesus being arrested or at the betrayal of Judas, but cutting off the guard’s ear, that was acting out of anger and Jesus admonished Peter and healed the guard (John 18:3-11; Matthew 26:47-56). Anger flares up whether we want it to or not, but acting out of that anger is a choice and choosing to do so, is sin. To prevent sinning, David instructs his enemies, and everyone who hears his psalm, to sit in silence and reflect, to make offerings to God and to trust God.

When we’re angry, what do we need to do?

We need to pray and give that anger over to God so He can give us wisdom and discernment as we reflect on the situation. We’re not under the law, so we don’t need to offer up a white dove or a spotless lamb as a sacrifice. Jesus Christ is our spotless lamb; His blood covers all those who believe Him in His righteousness. We have no righteousness to offer except what Jesus has given us.

So, what’s the sacrifice we should offer in righteousness?

Our own will and our own way. David is calling on his listener to sit in silence before God and trust His will and His way. God tells us that vengeance and retribution are His to dispense, not ours (Deuteronomy 32:35). God says that we should not bear grudges, but should love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18). A pleasing sacrifice is to agree with God that His way is the best way, even, and especially when, He chooses to offer grace to our enemies instead of wrath. After all, were we not also once enemies of God (Romans 5:8-10)? Thank You, Father, for showing us Your grace instead of Your wrath!

Let’s take a full “Selah” here today. Take some time to reflect upon and pray about David’s instruction to be angry but not sin, to stop fussing and fretting about offenses, and trust in the Lord to take care of the situation.

Is there an offense, situation, or interpersonal conflict that you need to lay down before the Lord? A grudge you need to surrender to Him? An act conducted or words spoken in anger that you need to confess, ask forgiveness for, and turn from doing again?

Let today be the day you offer God a sacrifice in righteousness by surrendering your way and choosing His way instead.

Prayer:

Thank You, God, for the gift of instruction found in the psalms. Thank You, for being a just and righteous God, perfect in all Your ways. Thank You, Jesus, for saving us when we were still Your enemies. Forgive us, Lord, when we cry “foul” and then use that offense to speak or act foully ourselves. Convict us, Lord, when we fuss and fret and imagine negative outcomes for those who seek to or have harmed us or others. Remind us of Your goodness and faithfulness, of Your perfect judgement and instruction and strengthen our resolve to trust in You to handle our situation perfectly. Teach us to love as You do, loving those who oppose us or oppose You with Your pure and self-sacrificing love. May we be a people who turn our anger over to You, who sit silently and wait on You, trusting that Your way is always best. Amen.