Psalms 4:4–5

Finally the psalmist warns them to "Tremble and sin not" (as one translation puts it). Let them tremble before a righteous God and give up their sins. Let the loneliness of the night hours be a time for self-judgment. Then, having repented of their evil, let them offer sacrifices of righteousness and put their trust in the Lord.

The Hebrew word translated "stand in awe" means "to be moved," or "to be disturbed." So it sometimes means "to be moved with anger," or "to be angry" (see Proverbs 29:9; Isaiah 37:28). It also means "to be moved with grief" (2 Samuel 19:1), or "to be moved with fear," "to tremble," or "to quake." So the context must show which feeling is meant. We conclude that the English translation, rather than the old Greek version, expresses the sense of the Hebrew. Paul citing the Greek wording of Psalm 4:4 (if it is a quotation) does not endorse that translation of the psalm. The Spirit led him to use the words in Ephesians 4:26, and there they are inspired words, rightly given in English as, "Be angry and do not sin."

There is such a thing as being rightly angry. But that anger is indignation against the evil, not against the person doing it. Behind it there is grief because of the evil. So we read of the Lord that He looked on the wicked leaders of the synagogue "with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart" (Mark 3:5). The anger of the flesh always has self in view. It is not grief because of evil, but resentment against someone who has been offensive. Anger against evil will lead to grief that finds its resource in turning to God, where the soul finds rest.

In the dead of night let them meditate within their own hearts and be still. The constant whirl of activity in so many people is really an effort to silence the serious questions of conscience. They need some time of silence before God to search their own hearts. If they did this, it might lead them to judge their sinful ways and turn to the Lord.

He tells them only to shut out the empty thoughts that pull at them, to withdraw into themselves, and to consult only their own hearts on their bed at night. The pursuit of pleasure only shows that there is no enjoyment of happiness. It may kill time and keep them from thinking. But if they did think, they would find that the weariness and emptiness they felt were the necessary fruit of departing from God, of sin which had ruined everything. Their own hearts held this secret, and would tell it, if they would only take them as their advisers.

The godly man, as here, may go to bed and sleep (v. 8). But he warns others to go to bed, to talk there with their own hearts, and to search their spirits (v. 4). He knows his own full right to rest in God undisturbed, for "God gives to His beloved sleep." The Lord Jesus knew this in experience, even when winds and waves tossed the ship on the sea of Galilee. (See Mark 4)

Finally the warning comes: "Tremble and sin not." Let them tremble before a righteous God and give up their sins. Let the loneliness of the night hours be a time for self-judgment. And having repented of their evil, let them offer sacrifices of righteousness and put their trust in the Lord.

We read, "Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!" Here the godly man looks for relief out of distress, because God stays true to the way He has revealed Himself. That is what he treats as his title to be helped, while he walks in fear and faith. The sacrifices of righteousness carry the same force. They are sacrifices offered according to the true character in which God had revealed Himself — in Israel, of course, according to the law, but with the reverence, purpose, and honesty of heart that suited coming to God this way, and that suited knowing what He was.

Conscience would then convince them that sin is real, and that no form of ritual service could ever deal with it. They must offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put their trust in the Lord. These two things are very much the lesson of the first two psalms.

But the Scriptures speak of other sacrifices too — or perhaps of the same sacrifices described in another way. Psalm 4:5 and Deuteronomy 33:19 speak of "sacrifices of righteousness." Psalm 51:17 says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." It may be that the sweetest fragrance rises to God from a broken spirit. It may also be that some of the sorrows of God's people that puzzle us now have this fragrance in view.

Then they might indeed offer acceptable sacrifices to God — not the sacrifices of the wicked, but the sacrifices of righteousness (v. 5), which Psalm 51:17 explains. In keeping with this comes the call to "put your trust in the Lord." This is a decided action of faith. It is not just one act of faith, but an attitude taken up for good.

The Lord does not fail to direct the gracious godly man (verses 4, 5). So self-judgment, honest worship, and confidence are all nurtured.

There will be power to act on others also — calling the people to the mountain to offer the sacrifices of righteousness. All of this rests on the fact that they themselves will draw on the riches of the seas and on hidden treasures. The principle is always the same. It is our privilege to rejoice in the Lord, whatever comes, and to draw from those eternal springs and hidden treasures that are found in Himself. Then our souls will be ready to call others to taste and see that the Lord is good.