THE LORD HAS SET APART THE GODLY FOR HIMSELF
Key verse: 3
NIV
Psalm 4[a]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.
1 Answer me(A) when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;(B)
have mercy(C) on me and hear my prayer.(D)
2 How long will you people turn my glory(E) into shame?(F)
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods[b]?[c](G)
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant(H) for himself;
the Lord hears(I) when I call to him.
4 Tremble and[d] do not sin;(J)
when you are on your beds,(K)
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord.(L)
Footnotes
Cross references
- Psalm 4:1 : Ps 13:3; 27:7; 69:16; 86:7; 102:2
- Psalm 4:1 : S Ge 32:7; S Jdg 2:15
- Psalm 4:1 : Ps 30:10
- Psalm 4:1 : Ps 17:6; 54:2; 84:8; 88:2
- Psalm 4:2 : Ex 16:7; 1Sa 4:21
- Psalm 4:2 : 2Ki 19:26; Job 8:22; Ps 35:26
- Psalm 4:2 : Jdg 2:17; Ps 31:6; 40:4; Jer 13:25; 16:19; Am 2:4
- Psalm 4:3 : Ps 12:1; 30:4; 31:23; 79:2; Mic 7:2; 1Ti 4:7; 2Pe 3:11
- Psalm 4:3 : Ps 6:8; Mic 7:7
- Psalm 4:4 : Eph 4:26*
- Psalm 4:4 : Ps 63:6; Da 2:28
- Psalm 4:5 : Ps 31:6; 115:9; Pr 3:5; 28:26; Isa 26:4; Jn 14:1
- Psalm 4:6 : Nu 6:25
- Psalm 4:7 : Ac 14:17
- Psalm 4:7 : Isa 9:3; 35:10; 65:14, 18
- Psalm 4:7 : S Ge 27:28; S Dt 28:51
- Psalm 4:8 : S Nu 6:26; S Job 11:18
- Psalm 4:8 : S Lev 26:6
- Psalm 4:8 : S Dt 33:28; S Jer 32:37
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Answer Me When I Call
To the (A)choirmaster: with (B)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.4 Answer me when I call, O God of my (C)righteousness!
You have (D)given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2 O men,[a] how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after (E)lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has (F)set apart (G)the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 (H)Be angry,[b] and do not sin;
(I)ponder in your own hearts (J)on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer (K)right sacrifices,
and put your (L)trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
(M)Lift up (N)the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
7 You have put (O)more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Read full chapter
Cross references
- Psalm 4:1 : Ps. 61, title; Hab. 3:19
- Psalm 4:1 : Ps. 61, title; Hab. 3:19
- Psalm 4:1 : Isa. 54:17; Jer. 23:6
- Psalm 4:1 : See Job 36:16
- Psalm 4:2 : [Ps. 5:6]
- Psalm 4:3 : [Ex. 11:7]
- Psalm 4:3 : [Ps. 50:5]
- Psalm 4:4 : Cited Eph. 4:26
- Psalm 4:4 : Ps. 77:6
- Psalm 4:4 : See Ps. 42:8
- Psalm 4:5 : Ps. 51:19; Deut. 33:19
- Psalm 4:5 : Ps. 37:3; 62:8
- Psalm 4:6 : Num. 6:26
- Psalm 4:6 : Ps. 89:15; [Ps. 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 119:135]
- Psalm 4:7 : [Isa. 9:3; 16:10; Jer. 48:38]
- Psalm 4:8 : See Ps. 3:5
- Psalm 4:8 : Ps. 16:9; Lev. 25:18, 19; 26:5; Deut. 33:28
4 Answer me when I call, O God of my (C)righteousness!
You have (D)given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2 O men,[a] how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after (E)lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has (F)set apart (G)the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 (H)Be angry,[b] and do not sin;
(I)ponder in your own hearts (J)on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer (K)right sacrifices,
and put your (L)trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
(M)Lift up (N)the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
7 You have put (O)more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Cross references
- Psalm 4:1 : Ps. 61, title; Hab. 3:19
- Psalm 4:1 : Ps. 61, title; Hab. 3:19
- Psalm 4:1 : Isa. 54:17; Jer. 23:6
- Psalm 4:1 : See Job 36:16
- Psalm 4:2 : [Ps. 5:6]
- Psalm 4:3 : [Ex. 11:7]
- Psalm 4:3 : [Ps. 50:5]
- Psalm 4:4 : Cited Eph. 4:26
- Psalm 4:4 : Ps. 77:6
- Psalm 4:4 : See Ps. 42:8
- Psalm 4:5 : Ps. 51:19; Deut. 33:19
- Psalm 4:5 : Ps. 37:3; 62:8
- Psalm 4:6 : Num. 6:26
- Psalm 4:6 : Ps. 89:15; [Ps. 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 119:135]
- Psalm 4:7 : [Isa. 9:3; 16:10; Jer. 48:38]
- Psalm 4:8 : See Ps. 3:5
- Psalm 4:8 : Ps. 16:9; Lev. 25:18, 19; 26:5; Deut. 33:28
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. How long will you love delusions?
There are times when we are angered and distressed by the ungodliness of society and the unfaithfulness of people. David felt this way, too. In verses 1-2 he is frustrated by those who dishonor God and proclaim lies as truth. He calls on the righteous God for relief.
2. The Lord has set apart the godly for himself (3)
We do not need to become angry because of godless men. We must know that God has set apart the godly for himself. We must be sure that we ourselves are not drawn into ungodly ways of thinking and acting.
3. In your anger, do not sin (4-8)
We must not give in to anger; we must not end the day and go to sleep with anger in our hearts. We must search our hearts and be silent, waiting on God. We must claim Jesus' sacrifice for cleansing and forgiveness and allow his joy to fill and satisfy our hearts.
Prayer: Lord, by your grace, help me to be a godly person, not an ungodly one. Come and dwell in my heart.
One Word: Set apart for the Lord
