Praying the Psalms: Psalm 4

In Psalm 4, David pours out his complaint against slanderous enemies and finds peace and refuge in God.

I’m always surprised that some seem surprised by the number of laments in the Psalter. I think it has more to do with faith traditions that are reluctant to validate the reality of circumstance and situations (even if the purpose is to remind themselves of God’s sovereignty over them). Some seem confused or bemused that someone would be willing/authentic enough to reveal the reality of their heart, their life, their predicament as if it were betraying their faith to be open with it.

Then I look at what tends to drive me to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and it makes a whole lot of sense. The times when I’ve journalled most, written most poetry, and generally poured out my heart on paper were the times I’ve been most emotionally raw and fragile. In these times I seem tangibly aware and hungry for God’s comfort, instruction, reassurance and love. And so I write. It’s not as if I don’t or shouldn’t thank God at the top of the mountain—I do. And there’s no doubt I need to be reminded in the high places that it’s His hope and faithfulness that brought me there. But it’s in the valley of the shadow of death that I crave the assurance that I serve a God that’s bigger then the air I breathe and bigger than my circumstance. One who delivers me in the face of my enemies.

David petitions God in Psalm 4 for a fair go. He reminds himself of who God is and he reminds God that if His promises are sure then He’ll act a certain way as well (we’re pretty good at reminding the omniscient, omnipotent One of what He should do for us!).

Grammatically I find Psalm 4 a little tricky. I have to read over it a few times to figure out who David’s talking to (is it himself? God? His enemies? The people of Israel?). In truth, most of the above. David talks to God, to men, then to himself about who God is amidst his circumstance. David speaks with kindness to his enemies saying; ‘have a think, don’t sin, come back to God’. Having reminded his enemies of what their posture should be towards God, he is reminded of God’s character himself and the joy that emanates from a searched heart that has been filled by God.

The Message has a great line at the end: ‘I have God’s more-than-enough, More joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees’.

Psalm 4 is, in essence, a righteous bloke having a whinge. And that’s ok. So long as our complaining takes us to a place of grace and to the foot of the cross it’s appropriate to let the cry of our heart be known to a God who hears. More than that, I think it’s God’s intention.

– Simon Elliott