Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer. Answer me when I callThe psalmist begins with a direct plea to God, emphasizing the urgency and personal nature of his request. The Hebrew word for "answer" is "עָנָה" (anah), which implies a response or reply. This reflects a deep relationship where the psalmist expects God to hear and respond. The phrase "when I call" suggests a habitual action, indicating that the psalmist regularly seeks God's presence and intervention. Historically, calling upon God was a common practice in ancient Israel, reflecting trust and dependence on divine aid. O God of my righteousness!
Here, the psalmist acknowledges God as the source of his righteousness. The Hebrew term "צְדָקָה" (tsedaqah) can mean righteousness, justice, or deliverance. This phrase underscores the belief that any righteousness the psalmist possesses is derived from God. In a historical context, this reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where God is seen as the ultimate judge and source of moral order. You have relieved my distress
The psalmist recalls past instances of divine intervention, using the Hebrew word "רָחַב" (rachab), meaning to broaden or make room. This suggests that God has previously expanded the psalmist's circumstances, alleviating his troubles. This remembrance of past deliverance serves to bolster the psalmist's faith in God's continued faithfulness. Historically, this reflects the cyclical nature of Israel's relationship with God, where periods of distress are followed by divine rescue. show me grace and hear my prayer
The plea for grace, or "חָנַן" (chanan) in Hebrew, is a request for unmerited favor. The psalmist seeks God's kindness and mercy, recognizing his own inability to resolve his plight without divine assistance. The phrase "hear my prayer" reiterates the desire for God's attentive listening. In the scriptural context, prayer is a vital means of communication with God, reflecting humility and dependence on His will. This closing appeal encapsulates the psalmist's trust in God's character as gracious and attentive. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of this Psalm, David is calling out to God in a time of need, seeking divine intervention and relief. 2. GodReferred to as the "God of my righteousness," indicating a personal relationship and trust in God's just nature. 3. DistressThe situation or event causing David's plea, possibly a time of personal or communal crisis. 4. PrayerThe act of communication with God, highlighting the importance of seeking divine help and guidance. 5. GraceThe unmerited favor from God that David is requesting, emphasizing reliance on God's mercy. Teaching Points Dependence on GodDavid's plea underscores the importance of relying on God in times of trouble. Believers are encouraged to turn to God first, trusting in His righteousness and ability to provide relief. The Nature of RighteousnessThe phrase "God of my righteousness" suggests that true righteousness comes from God. Christians are reminded that their righteousness is found in Christ, not in their own deeds. The Power of PrayerDavid's earnest prayer demonstrates the power and necessity of prayer in the believer's life. It is a direct line to God, who hears and responds to His children. Seeking God's GraceThe request for grace highlights the need for God's unmerited favor. Believers should continually seek God's grace, recognizing their dependence on His mercy. Experiencing God's ReliefDavid acknowledges past relief from God, encouraging believers to remember and testify to God's faithfulness in their own lives. Bible Study Questions 1. How does David's approach to God in Psalm 4:1 reflect his understanding of God's character? 2. In what ways can we apply the concept of God being our righteousness in our daily lives? 3. How does the theme of distress and relief in Psalm 4:1 relate to your personal experiences with prayer? 4. What are some practical ways to cultivate a habit of seeking God's grace in times of need? 5. How can remembering past instances of God's faithfulness strengthen your faith during current challenges? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 18:6This verse also speaks of calling upon the Lord in distress and being heard, reinforcing the theme of God as a responsive and caring protector. Philippians 4:6-7These verses encourage believers to present their requests to God with thanksgiving, promising peace that guards hearts and minds, similar to the peace David seeks. James 5:16Highlights the power of prayer, especially the prayer of a righteous person, which aligns with David's appeal to the "God of my righteousness." People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics 2, 4, Chief, Choirmaster, Corded, Cry, David, Distress, Ear, Enlarged, Enlargement, Favour, Free, Gavest, Gracious, Gt, Hast, Instruments, Large, Leader, Lt, Merciful, Mercy, Music, Musician, Music-maker, Neginoth, O, Overseer, Prayer, Pressure, Psalm, Relief, Relieved, Righteous, Righteousness, Room, Stringed, String-music, TroublesDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 4:1 5559 stress
8610 prayer, asking God
8640 calling upon God Psalm 4: 5420 music
5421 musical instruments Psalm 4:1-3 1125 God, righteousness Library Out of the Deep of Death.
My heart is disquieted within me, and the fear of death has fallen upon me.--Ps. iv. 4. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart.--Ps. lxiii. 25. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.--Ps. xxiii. 4. Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.--Ps. cxvi. 8. What will become of us after we die? What will the next world be like? What is heaven like? Shall I be able …
Charles Kingsley—Out of the DeepPrayer Out of the Deep.
Hear my prayer, O God; and hide not Thyself from my petition. Take heed unto me and hear me; how I mourn in my prayer and am vexed.--Psalm iv. 1, 2. In my trouble I will call upon the Lord, and complain unto my God; so shall He hear my voice out of His holy temple, and my complaint shall come before Him; it shall enter even into His ears.--Ps. xviii. 5, 6. The Lord is nigh unto them that call upon Him; He also will hear their cry, and will help them.--Psalm cxlv. 18, 19. In the day when I cried …
Charles Kingsley—Out of the Deep Of the Love of Solitude and Silence
Seek a suitable time for thy meditation, and think frequently of the mercies of God to thee. Leave curious questions. Study such matters as bring thee sorrow for sin rather than amusement. If thou withdraw thyself from trifling conversation and idle goings about, as well as from novelties and gossip, thou shalt find thy time sufficient and apt for good meditation. The greatest saints used to avoid as far as they could the company of men, and chose to live in secret with God. 2. One hath said, …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ How we must Stand and Speak, in Everything that we Desire
"My Son, speak thou thus in every matter, 'Lord, if it please Thee, let this come to pass. Lord, if this shall be for Thine honour, let it be done in Thy Name. Lord, if thou see it good for me, and approve it as useful, then grant me to use it for Thy honour. But if thou knowest that it shall be hurtful unto me, and not profitable for the health of my soul, take the desire away from me'! For not every desire is from the Holy Ghost, although it appear to a man right and good. It is difficult …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ The Shadow of his Wings
Gerhard Ter Steegen Ps. iv. 8 The evening comes, the sun is sunk and gone, And all things lie in stillness and in rest; And thou, my soul, for thee one rest alone Remaineth ever, on the Father's breast. The wanderer rests at last each weary limb; Birds to their nests return from heath and hill; The sheep are gathered from the pastures dim-- In Thee, my God, my restless heart is still. Lord, gather from the regions dim and far Desires and thoughts that wandered far from Thee; To home and rest lead …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others An Evening Thought. --Ps. Iv.
An Evening Thought.--Ps. iv. While many cry in nature's night Ah! who will show the way to bliss? Lord, lift on us thy saving light; We seek no other guide than this. Gladness Thy sacred presence brings, More than the joyful reaper knows; Or he who treads the grapes and sings While with new wine his vat o'erflows. In peace I lay me down to sleep; Thine arm, O Lord! shall stay my head, Thine Angel spread his tent, and keep His midnight watch around my bed. …
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns My God Will Hear Me
"Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you. Blessed are all they that wait for Him. He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee."--ISA. xxx. 18, 19. "The Lord will hear when I call upon Him."--PS. iv. 3. "I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me, O God!"--PS. xvii. 6. "I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me."--MIC. vii. 7. The power of prayer rests in the faith …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession Some General Uses from this Useful Truth, that Christ is the Truth.
Having thus cleared up this truth, we should come to speak of the way of believers making use of him as the truth, in several cases wherein they will stand in need of him as the truth. But ere we come to the particulars, we shall first propose some general uses of this useful point. First. This point of truth serveth to discover unto us, the woful condition of such as are strangers to Christ the truth; and oh, if it were believed! For, 1. They are not yet delivered from that dreadful plague of …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life Fourth Sunday after Easter Second Sermon.
Text: James 1, 16-21. 16 Be not deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Christian Graces.
FAITH. FAITH! Peter saith, faith, in the very trial of it, is much more precious than gold that perisheth. If so, what is the worth or value that is in the grace itself? Faith is so great an artist in arguing and reasoning with the soul, that it will bring over the hardest heart that it hath to deal with. It will bring to my remembrance at once, both my vileness against God, and his goodness towards me; it will show me, that though I deserve not to breathe in the air, yet God will have me an heir …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan Rules to be Observed in Singing of Psalms.
1. Beware of singing divine psalms for an ordinary recreation, as do men of impure spirits, who sing holy psalms intermingled with profane ballads: They are God's word: take them not in thy mouth in vain. 2. Remember to sing David's psalms with David's spirit (Matt. xxii. 43.) 3. Practise St. Paul's rule--"I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the understanding also." (1 Cor. xiv. 15.) 4. As you sing uncover your heads (1 Cor. xi. 4), and behave yourselves in comely reverence as in the …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
"O taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."--Psalm xxxiv. 8. You see by these words what love Almighty God has towards us, and what claims He has upon our love. He is the Most High, and All-Holy. He inhabiteth eternity: we are but worms compared with Him. He would not be less happy though He had never created us; He would not be less happy though we were all blotted out again from creation. But He is the God of love; He brought us all into existence, …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII Fifth Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to the Fruits of Faith.
Text: 1 Peter 3, 8-15. 8 Finally, be ye all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tender-hearted, humble-minded: 9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: 11 And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Covenanting Adapted to the Moral Constitution of Man.
The law of God originates in his nature, but the attributes of his creatures are due to his sovereignty. The former is, accordingly, to be viewed as necessarily obligatory on the moral subjects of his government, and the latter--which are all consistent with the holiness of the Divine nature, are to be considered as called into exercise according to his appointment. Hence, also, the law of God is independent of his creatures, though made known on their account; but the operation of their attributes …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Letter Xl to Thomas, Prior of Beverley
To Thomas, Prior of Beverley This Thomas had taken the vows of the Cistercian Order at Clairvaux. As he showed hesitation, Bernard urges his tardy spirit to fulfil them. But the following letter will prove that it was a warning to deaf ears, where it relates the unhappy end of Thomas. In this letter Bernard sketches with a master's hand the whole scheme of salvation. Bernard to his beloved son Thomas, as being his son. 1. What is the good of words? An ardent spirit and a strong desire cannot express …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 4:1 NIVPsalm 4:1 NLTPsalm 4:1 ESVPsalm 4:1 NASBPsalm 4:1 KJV
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