An Evening Hymn…

“Evening Prayer of Trust in God.
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
2O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach?
How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah.

3But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself;
The LORD hears when I call to Him.
4Tremble, and do not sin;
Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And trust in the LORD.
6Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!
7You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
8In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.” - Psalm 4

This Psalm is apparently intended to accompany the third, and make a pair with it. If the last may be entitled THE MORNING PSALM, Psalm 4 could be entitled THE EVENING HYMN. The Inspired title is: “To the chief Musician on Neginoth, a Psalm of David,” thus we can assume that as the Third, David is the author here as well. Finally, the term Neginoth means stringed instruments, as opposed to horns or drums. This would have been a soothing hymn.

There are three divisions within this Psalm. The first is a Cry for Grace (v. 1). The second is a Cry for Holiness (vv.2-5) and the Third is a Cry of Praise (VV.6-8).

A Cry for Grace

David realizes that he has no business attaining an audience with God. While verse one initially sounds like it is a demand, it is actually a plea from David for God to extend his Grace to him, just as He has done in the past, one more time.

A Cry for Holiness

David also knows that God is a perfect and holy God who has been mocked by David’s enemies. However, instead of calling upon God to destroy those enemies, David calls upon them to change their ways. They are to turn from their wicked lives, meditate upon the understanding of who God is, and respond in appropriate worship.

A Cry of Praise

David indicates his own understanding of who God is in this last section. While others are seeking God’s blessings and not recognizing when/what He has already provided, David knows and understands who God is…David’s source of sustenance, provision, rest and peace.

Oh Lord our Protector and Sustainer

We, like David, live in a hostile world. And, like David we are no different from those who hate God, except that we have accepted by faith the grace that He has provided to us through His Son Jesus Christ. If our desire is to have the rest and peace that David enjoyed, we need to follow the same formula that David gave to his enemies:

1. Tremble, and do not sin – we are to live a life of holiness, because the God who provides for us is holy.
2. Meditate in your heart – spend time in disciplined study and prayer so that our relationship with God continues to grow in our knowledge of Him.
3. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness – worship the God of this universe with all that is due Him. Do not try to cut corners, but worship with everything we have.
4. Trust in the LORD – He is sovereign. He is capable of providing for all our needs. He will take protect His own. He alone is God, we are not.

- Mac