Psalm 4

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

1 Answer me when I call to you,
    O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
    Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 How long will you people ruin my reputation?
    How long will you make groundless accusations?
    How long will you continue your lies? Interlude
3 You can be sure of this:
    The Lord set apart the godly for himself.
    The Lord will answer when I call to him.

4 Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
    Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude
5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
    and trust the Lord.

6 Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
    Let your face smile on us, Lord.
7 You have given me greater joy
    than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Note: we know this is a psalm of David but we are not given anything definite to determine exactly what was happening to him.

Questions:

  1. Verse 1: why do you think it matters to David that God declares him to be innocent?
  2. Verse 2: David is being challenged by people who are using groundless accusations and lies to ruin his reputation. Why does he leave a pause for thought at this point? What is he looking to emphasise?
  3. Verse 3: Think about your life at present. How does this verse help you to face your challenges?
  4. Verse 4: In the middle of groundless attacks on his reputation, David is inevitably angry. What danger does David see in this? What is his advice to himself and us?
  5. Verse 5: What is the right spirit of which David is thinking? How does having the right spirit help us to trust the Lord?
  6. Verse 6: What is David’s answer to those who seek better times?
  7. Verse 7: David recognises that he has a greater joy than those who have great wealth. How does David come by this joy? What is more important to you, wealth or abundant joy?
  8. Verse 8: How is your sleep? What can you learn from David about sleeping peacefully despite the challenges you face?