SOTD Psalm 4
How to Approach this Psalm
Ask God to give you a desire and a delight for His word before you read it (Psalm 1:3). Ask God to help you to understand the meaning of His Word and how it should apply to your life. Ask God to search your heart (Psalm 139:23) and help you see your life clearly and to enable you put His Word into practice in your life.
How to Think Through this Psalm
Ask questions about the situation of the Psalm
Questions like- who wrote this Psalm?, was there a particular situation that the author was writing in?, are any particular circumstances mentioned in this Psalm?
Ask questions about the content of the Psalm
Questions like- what does this Psalm say about God? What does it say about man? What does it say about the way that God wants man to live? Does the Psalm give any commands? What principles does the Psalm portray? Does this Psalm speak at all about the problems men are in? Does this Psalm say anything about God’s solution to these problems? Does the writer say anything about what He trusts in or believes in this Psalm? Does the writer compare/contrast anything in this Psalm?
Ask questions about how this Psalm applies to your life
Is there anything in this Psalm that you need to remember and fight to believe? Does this Psalm give any commands that you need to live by? If so, are you submitting to God’s authority in that area of your life? What Scriptural principles can you learn from this Psalm that apply to your life? Does the way that you think/believe about anything need to change? What is one very specific way that you can put into practice something that you have learned from this Psalm?
After reading this Psalm
Think about it! Keep mentally chewing on it throughout the day. If you read your Bible in the morning, find ways to remind yourself of this Psalm throughout the day. If you read your Bible at night, think about this Psalm the next day. Maybe try to memorize one of the verses. Talk about this Psalm with other people. Leave a comment with questions that you have about the Psalm and with things that God has taught you from His Word and things you are thinking through. Let’s encourage each other with what God is teaching us in His Word
Psalm 4
Answer Me When I Call
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
Selah
3But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
Selah
5Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.
6There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”
7You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.