Short commentary on Psalm 4

Psalms 4 -
Title - This Psalm is apparently intended to accompany the third, and make a pair with it.
The inspired title runs thus: “To the chief Musician on Neginoth, a Psalm of David.” The chief musician was the master or director of the sacred music of the sanctuary. Concerning this person carefully read 1Ch_6:31, 1Ch_6:32; 1Ch_15:16-22; 1Ch_25:1, 1Ch_25:7. In these passages will be found much that is interesting to the lover of sacred song, and very much that will throw a light upon the mode of praising God in the temple. Some of the titles of the Psalms are, we doubt not, derived from the names of certain renowned singers, who composed the music to which they were set.
On Neginoth, that is, on stringed instruments, or hand instruments, which were played on with the hand alone, as harps and cymbals. The icy of the Jewish church was so great that they needed music to set forth the delightful feelings of their souls, our holy mirth is none the less overflowing because we prefer to express it in a more spiritual manner, as becometh a more spiritual dispensation. In allusion to these instruments to be played on with the hand, Nazianzen says. “Lord I am an instrument for thee to touch.” Let us lay ourselves open to the Spirit's touch, so shall we make melody. May we be full of faith and love, and we shall be living instruments of music.
Hawker says “The Septuagint read the word which we have rendered in our translation chief musician Lamenetz, instead of Lamenetzoth, the meaning of which is unto the end.” From whence the Greek and Latin fathers imagined, that all psalms which bear this inscription refer to the Messiah the great end. If so, this Psalm is addressed to Christ; and well it may, for it is all of Christ, and spoken by Christ, and hath respect only to his people as being one with Christ. The Lord the Spirit give the reader to see this, and he will find it most blessed.
Division - In the Psa_4:1David pleads with God for help. In the second he expostulates with his enemies, and continues to address them to the end of Psa_4:5. Then from Psa_4:6 to the close he delightfully contrasts his own satisfaction and safety with the disquietude of the ungodly in their best estate. The Psalm was most probably written upon the same occasion as the preceding, and is another choice flower from the garden of affliction. Happy is it lot us that David was tired, or probably we should never have heard these sweet sonnets of faith.
Hints to Preachers
Psa_4:1 - Is full of matter for a sermon upon, past mercies a plea for present help. The first sentence shows that believers desire, expect, and believe in a God that heareth prayer. The title - God of my righteousness, may furnish a text (see exposition), and the last sentence may suggest a sermon upon, “The best of saints must still appeal to God's mercy and sovereign grace.”
Psa_4:2 - Depravity of man as evinced
(1) by continuance in despising Christ,
(2) loving vanity in his heart, and
(3) seeking lies in his daily life.
Psa_4:2 - The length of the sinner's sin. “How long?” May be bounded by repentance, shall be by death, and yet shall continue in eternity.
Psa_4:3 - Election - Its aspects towards God, our enemies, and ourselves.
Psa_4:3 - “The Lord will hear when I call unto him.” Answers to prayer certain to special persons. Mark out those who can claim the favour.
Psa_4:3 - The gracious Separatist. Who is he? Who separated him? With what end? How to make men know it?
Psa_4:4 - The sinner directed to review himself, that he may be convinced of sin - Andrew Fuller, 1754-1815.
Psa_4:4 - “Be still.” Advice - good, practical, but hard to follow. Times when seasonable. Graces needed to enable one to be still. Results of quietness. Persons who most need the advice. Instances of its practice. Here is much material for a sermon.
Psa_4:5 - The nature of those sacrifices of righteousness which the Lord's people are expected to offer - William Ford Vance, 1827.
Psa_4:6 - The cry of the world and the church contrasted. Vox populi not always Vox Dei.
Psa_4:6 - The cravings of the soul all satisfied in God.
Psa_4:6, Psa_4:7 - An assurance of the Saviour's love, the source of unrivalled joy.
Psa_4:7 - The believer's joys.
(1) Their source, “Thou;”
(2) their season - even now - “Thou hast;”
(3) their position, “in my heart;”
(4) their excellence, “more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.”
Another excellent theme suggests itself - “The superiority of the joys of grace to the joys of earth;” or, “Two sort of prosperity - which is to be the more desired?”
Psa_4:8 - The peace and safety of the good man - Joseph Lathtop, D.D., 1805.
Psa_4:8 - A bedchamber for believers, a vesper song to sing in it, and a guard to keep the door.
Psa_4:8 - The Christian's good-night.
Psa_4:2 - The means which a believer should use: to win the ungodly to Christ.
(1). Expostulation, Psa_4:2.
(2) Instruction, Psa_4:2.
(3) Exhortation, Psa_4:4, Psa_4:5.
(4) Testimony to the blessedness of true religion, as in Psa_4:6, Psa_4:7.
(5) Exemplification of that testimony by the peace of faith, Psa_4:8.