Psalms 4

Where the worm never dies, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:44). Use 1. See how deadly an evil sin is; how strange is it that any one should love it (Psalm 4:3). How long will you love vanity?

The enemy may invade our palaces, but not our peace; this man Christ shall be the peace. When the head aches, the heart may be well; when worldly troubles assault a Christian, his mind may be in peace and quiet (Psalm 4:8): I will lay me down in peace, and sleep. It was now a sa…

He who fears God imagines that whatever he is doing, God looks on, and as a judge, weighs all his actions. 2. To fear God is when we have such a holy awe of God upon our hearts that we dare not sin (Psalm 4:4): Stand in awe and sin not. The wicked sin and fear not; the godly fea…

The more grace, the more joy; as the more sap in the root, the more wine in the grape. Who did more increase in grace than David, and who more in consolation (Psalm 4:7)? You have put gladness in my heart: Grace turns to joy, as the milk to cream.

1. I begin with the first, the petition, Remitte nobis peccata nostra, Forgive us our sins. A blessed petition! the ignorant world say, who will show us any good? (Psalm 4:6) meaning, a good lease, a good purchase; but our Saviour here teaches us to pray for that which is more n…

First, the immediate light of his countenance, which is a clear evident beam and revelation of God's favor, immediately testifying that we are his, which is called the sealing of the Spirit, received after believing (Ephesians 1:13), which David desired and rejoiced in more than…

The prospect of the Day of Christ was the sole foundation of all their spiritual joy, that was purely so. But as to their own present state, they were allowed and called to rejoice in the abundance of temporal things; though the Psalmist in a spirit of prophecy, prefers the joy…

1. In a desire of fellowship, and communion with him in his ordinances, as Canticles 1:1: Let him kiss me with &c. — his love is better than wine — this was a sign, and an evidence of love in them, and so was that in verse fourth, Draw me &c. So here, when the soul desires Chris…

And he must sorrow, not so much for the act of this sin, as for the corruption of nature in this behalf. Covetous people will plead that they are free from this vice, but mark men's lives, and we shall see it is a common disease, as David noted (Psalm 4:6), where he brings in th…

Plato told the musicians, that philosophers could dine and sup without them, much more a believer can be merry in the Lord, without the supplement of worldly comforts. 1. It is a more inward joy (Psalm 4:7): You have put gladness in my heart. Other joy lies more in the surface,…

Oh remember, holiness is the badge of those which are the Lord's called people, and it should be a matter of reverence, not reproach. Again, it serves for caution, to prevent mistakes: Christians, look to your sanctification (Psalm 4:3). Know that God has set apart him that is g…

To be sure in the dark day of desertion, when the soul is benighted, and in the stormy day of temptation, when the soul is in a hurry — it is utterly unfit to judge its estate. 'Examine your hearts upon your beds, and be still' — Psalm 4. This is rather a season for watching and…

And he must sorrow, not so much for the act of this sin, as for the corruption of nature in this behalf. Covetous people will plead, that they are free from this vice, but mark men's lives, and we shall see that this is a common disease, in the most, as it is noted (Psalm 4:6):…

And oh what memorable fruits of secret prayer had David frequently? Surely he felt the sweetness of it, both in his soul and body, in his spiritual estate, and political affairs: Therefore he commends it to all (Psalm 4). Commune with your own heart upon your bed (or in your bed…

Thus did Ezra (Ezra chapter 9), and Daniel (Daniel chapter 9), and David (Psalm 32:3). The fifth: in all our miseries and adversities, we must be silent in our hearts, by quieting our wills in the good will of God (Psalm 4:4). Examine yourselves, and be still.

When a distinction begins to be made, in ordinances, privileges, deliverances, protections, evidently given to some peculiar ones, they tremble within that they are set apart for no good. This picking and choosing of men by the Lord (Psalm 4:3), they cannot bear with. Such might…

He valued the comforts of his God, and the shinings of God's countenance better than life. And (Psalm 4:6): Lift you up the light of your countenance upon me, and that shall more glad me, than when my corn and wine and oil increases. David would more value the comforts of God's…

They rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. What joy you have in the world, the tongue is able to speak of it, but the tongue is not able to speak of that inward joy that godly men have in their hearts, upon the apprehension of the interest they have in Jesus Christ (Ps…

Tenthly, true assurance, wherever it is, it makes a man so to value the comforts of the Spirit of God, that he does undervalue all other comforts in the world in comparison of them. (Psalm 4:6): Lord, lift you up the light of your countenance upon me; what then? And this shall m…

2. In its effects, more exhilarating, cheering and refreshing. And, 3. in her esteem, to me (says she) it's better; I love it, prize it, and esteem it more (Psalm 4:8-9), Thereby you have made my heart more glad, etc. This his love is every way preferable, to all the most cheeri…

3. He has the watch of Angels (Psalm 34:7) pitching their tents about him, and chariots of Angels waiting on him. 4. He has God himself, and his Almighty power for his defense, who alone may make him dwell in safety, therefore he may lie down with confidence, and also sleep with…

Again, the mouth, and its sweetness especially, may be mentioned to signify friendliness and love, or rather the sensible manifestations of these, as the husband does by kissing his wife; and in this sense is taken, (Song of Solomon 1:2), and we take that to be aimed at here, to…

And therefore the wise man gives us this advice (Ecclesiastes 12:13): Fear God and keep his commandments. And the Psalmist (Psalm 4:4): Stand in awe and sin not. Secondly, as the authority of God is set forth to move us to obedience by working upon our fear, so his benefits and…

This is that which the Prophet calls for in the words of the text; so the Psalmist, there are many that say, who will show us any good? Lord lift you up the light of your countenance upon us (Psalm 4). Let other men make what enquiries they please, look for good, for rest, for p…

David drew near to God, for he was ever with him (Psalm 139:17). And this made his pillow soft when he went to sleep (Psalm 4:8): I will lay me down in peace. As the honey-dew falls upon the leaf: O that sweet serenity which drops as honey upon the soul, while it is drawing near…

Husbandmen divide and separate their own lands from other men's; they have their landmarks and boundaries, by which property is preserved (Deuteronomy 27:17; Proverbs 22:28). So are the people of God wonderfully separated, and distinguished from all the people of the earth (Psal…

Consider Martha her grief for her dead brother, and her unbelief, in tying the not dying of her brother to Christ's presence bodily as man (John 11:21), and her sorrow well near drowns her faith (ver. 39, 40). 14. False joy in corn, wine and oil, in full barns (Psalm 4:7; Luke 1…

So says Elias to Ahab (1 Kings 21:20): You have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. Psalm 4:2. O you sons of men, how long will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you follow vanity and seek leasing?

What is the World, and what are the things thereof which most men spend their thoughts about, and fix their affections on? The Psalmist gives his judgment about them, in comparison of a view of this glory of Christ (Psalm 4:6). Many say, who will show us any good?

Secondly, in regard of the relation they have to God: Gods people have a near relation to God; the nearer relation one has to great ones, the more high he is in the esteem of men; now Gods people though never so mean, have a wonderful near relation to God; for, First, they are t…

Know your folly, that you hast in this, like a Swine sought to take contentment in swill and husks, when as you hear there is bread enough in your Fathers house. Mark what the Psalmist says in Psalm 4:3 How long will you turn my glory into shame? how long will you love vanity an…

This in a lively manner shadows forth the infinite and incomprehensible Mercy of our God; whose Mercy is said to be over all his works, Psalm 145:9. In how many sweet Notions is the Mercy of God represented to us in the Scripture. He is said to be Plenteous, Psalm 4:5. Abundant,…

He has a hiding place and a covert, and rivers of water, and the shadow of a great rock for his security. This is the great mystery of faith in this matter of our acceptation with God by Christ: whereas the soul of a believer finds enough in himself and upon himself to rend the…

We see it by daily experience, that very many have little taste and sweetness and relish in their souls of those truths, which yet they savingly know and believe: But when we are taught by this unction, oh how sweet is every thing we know of God? As we may see in the place of Jo…

A sense of this love is able not only to relieve us but to make us in every condition rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorious. It is not with an increase of corn and wine and oil, but with the shining of the countenance of God upon us, that he comforts our souls, Psalm 4:6. Th…

By Esau's pleasant countenance Jacob perceived that he was pacified in his heart towards him, and thereupon said, I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, that is, an amiable, gracious countenance (Genesis 33:10). On this ground David desired God, to lift up t…

It will tread upon all to come within the embracements of Jesus Christ, and say with Saint Paul, I was not disobedient to, or unpersuaded by the heavenly vision. It is no wonder that the godly are by some called singular and precise — they are so: singular, a few selected ones p…

In prosperity it is pertinent to crown, and sanctify all other enjoyments, with this that so far surpasses them; and in distress it is the only nepenthe, the cordial of fainting spirits. So (Psalm 4): he has put joy into my heart, this mirth makes way for itself which other mirt…

And this is that sacrifice that shall never end, but continues in Heaven to Eternity. Then a holy course of life is called the Sacrifice of Righteousness (Psalm 4:6) (Philippians 4:18) (Hebrews 13:16), where he shows what sacrifices succeed to those, that thus he has taught, so…

As in that formal matrimonial covenant, that was used between the prophet and his wife (Hosea 3:3), "You shall not be for another man, so will I also be for you" — so in the covenant, we resolve to renounce all others, and to live and act for God. "The Lord has set apart him tha…

There must be such an aggregation or gathering together Gods scattered Saints, 1. From the near Relation they have to all the Persons in the Trinity: 1. To God the Faterh; he has chosen these Jewels and set them apart for himself, Psalm 4:3. and will he lose any of his Elect? 2.…

Among Christians, the good and bad, that do so seldom agree in anything, yet agree in this, every man would be happy and not miserable. (Psalm 4:6) There be many that say, who will show us any good? Good, good is the cry of the world; it is intended in the very nature of desire;…

1. There is a Reflexive Meditation, which is nothing but a solemn parley between a man and his own heart. Psalm 4:4. Commune with your own heart and be still. When we have withdrawn ourselves from company, that the mind may return upon itself, to consider what we are, what we ha…

Communion with God is the main thing that we seek after, as to the enjoyment of his favor in the acceptance of our persons and pardon of our sins. This is that the man of God expresses in his own name, and in the name of all the saints, Psalm 4:6-7. Lord, lift up the light of yo…

A delight better than carnal rejoicing. Wicked men that flow in ease and plenty, have not so much comfort as a godly man has in the enjoyment of God according to the tenor of his word (Psalm 4:7). You have put more gladness into my heart, than when their corn, wine, and oil incr…

A man's mind is lessened when he is under that passion. Griefs contract and lessen the soul, but joy enlarges it, as (Isaiah 60:5), and in this sense it is said (Psalm 4:1), you have enlarged me when I was in distress. In sorrow the spirits return to comfort and support the hear…

All desire to be happy by an inclination of nature, for to this were we appointed by God. Many say, who will show us any good (Psalm 4:6)? But men's practice is contrary, they live as if their end were to be miserable.

We were made for another, to be happy in the enjoyment of a being without us; therefore man must have something to love; for the affections of the soul cannot lie idle and without an object. (Psalm 4:6) Then many will say, who will show us any good? We all hunt about for a match…

1. Outward Deliverances out of Straits and Afflictions (Psalm 118:5): I called upon the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place: And (Psalm 18:19): He brought me forth also into a large place, he delivered me because he delighted in me. So (Psalm 4:1)…

The world will be soon gone, and the lust and taste thereof gone also; but he that goes on with the work of holiness, building on the promise of another world, lays a sure foundation. Partly because they do more intimately affect the soul; sensual delights do not go so deep as t…