THE LORD HEARS MY PRAYER
Key verse: 1
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.
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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
In verse 1, David cries for God’s help and mercy in his distress. He is passionate as he prays. He relies on God’s righteousness, not his own. When we are in distress, we also can turn to God by crying out in prayer, relying on His mercy and trusting in Him alone. This is the prayer that God hears.
In verses 2-3, David admonishes those who spread lies about him and twisted God’s glory into something shameful. David united the kingdom of Israel, restored the ark, and worshiped God joyfully. But those who hated David and worshiped false idols slandered David. Even his own wife Michal dishonored him. But David affirmed that God honored him as his servant and God hears him.
When David laid down to sleep, he did not wish his enemies harm, nor did he let them rob him of peace. He trusted in God’s righteousness and believed that God would care for him. May we have this assurance and peace in our hearts when we are slandered.
Prayer: Father, thank you for hearing my prayers and having mercy on me. Please help me to trust in your righteousness and have peace.
One Word: The Lord hears my prayer for mercy
