1.	Psalm 4

The facts:

1. What two things does David ask for, and what two arguments does he use to support his request?

1.Answer me when I call,	1. O God of my righteousness

2. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer	2. You have relieved me in my distress.

2. What distress is David in with men?

They make his honor a reproach (how? because)

They love what is worthless

They seek out falsehood

3. What is David's honor which they are making a reproach?

being a set-apart and godly man?

Examples--not sinning in anger, trusting God, not getting glad off wine and beer.

3. What does David want these men to know?

The Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself (parallel to this line)

The Lord hears when I call to Him--what's implied? David is the godly man, what you trust in won't hold up, but don't make enemies w/ David.

4. To whom is David speaking in verses 4 and 5?

Perhaps to himself--what to do when surrounded by reproach? be angry but don't sin, keep your heart right, act on your faith and then God will dislplay His goodness and put gladness in our hearts?

What three things does he recommend to men as a proper course of action in place of seeking what is worthless and false?

1. Tremble, and do not sin-- how?

Why are these men trembling and on the verge of sinning? What should they do instead of sinning?

2. Meditate in your heart on your bed and be still.--and then?

Did you notice where the solution takes place? Not in bed, but in the heart or mind.

1'. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust in the Lord

What are the sacrfices of righteousness, and why are they placed next to trusting in the Lord? How is righteousness a sacrifice? How is sacrifice trusting in the Lord?

5. What problem and solution does David point to next?

prob: Many are saying, "Who will show us any good?"

sol: Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O Lord!

6. To whom does David attribute the gladness of His heart? What sort of gladness is it?

to God--Greater gladness than that afforded by worldly pleasures

7. To whom and what does David attribute his ability to let down his guard and sleep?

Interpretation:

1. In what way is Yahweh the God of David's righteousness? --source?, My righteous God? --God, my righteousness? or

1. How does Yahweh express His righteousness?

Note: Righteousness, God's righteousness, is here parallelled with relieving distress

2. How does man's seeking after emptiness and lies make the Davidic King's honor into reproach?

3. What is David imply ing when he gives the twin warning, the godly are special to Yahweh, and He hears me?

David is the godly--he will be heard--he is special to God.

4. On what should a man meditate when on his bed?

4. How would it be sinning to not offer sacrifices of righteousness or trust in the Lord?

5. How does God lift up the light of His countenance upon us? How does the light of God's countenance show us good? --the joy he puts in our hearts!

6.

Application: What things do we tremble at today? What is one thing you are tremblingly angry about? Where does the solution begin? What sacrifices could we make? What could you lay on the altar today to begin trusting the Lord?