Psalm 3 deals specifically with Absalom’s revolt against David. Psalm 4 picks up again on the trials of facing pagan nations as expressed in Psalm 2, where the writer asks, “why do the nations rage?” In verse 1 of Psalm 4, David speaks to God in prayer. Then in verse two, he says to his accusers. “That’s always the way it should be. Before speaking out to people, be sure you’ve prayed up to God.”[1] Verse two says, “O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah.” He asks another question of those that sound off against God and His anointed. “O men” is a phrase that addresses those men of authority or power. David might still be focusing on Absalom’s rebellion and those in leadership who joined him, or he’s looking around him at the pagan nations. Tesh says, “Who were these men? Absalom’s lieutenants, opposed to David? Israel’s leaders, turning from Yahweh to idols in a time of drought? Foreign kings taunting oppressed Israel? Or personal enemies of the psalmist, vilifying him? Whoever, specifically, were involved, it was another circumstance in which the ungodly set themselves against those who sought the way of the Lord.”[2]
Regardless of their specific identity, “The leadership has gone astray. They are opposed to the king and have shown their hostility in two ways.” The first way deals with David’s honor. I prefer “glory” instead of “honor.” That’s a better translation of the Hebrew word, and it shifts the focus from David to God. That David’s enemies attack him, as God’s divinely appointed King, they attack and scoff at God’s glory. “Second, they characterize themselves by a diligent pursuit of what is ‘vain’ and ‘deceptive.’ These words explain how they have trodden the king’s glory into the ground by betraying it for an unspecified worthless cause.”[3] David puts his faith and confidence in God alone. His enemies trust in armies and soldiers.
In Psalm 62:7, David says, “In God is my safety and my glory, the rock of my strength.” In contrast to his enemies, who hope and trust in human means, David trusts in God. “David reasons, who can overcome God to tear me down? If God is my glory, who will accuse or shame me? If God is my rock, what storm can shake my composure? If God is my refuge, what weapon can reach me and do me harm? David’s resolve shows what a difference it makes when a believer fixes their salvation on God alone. If we rely on money, a worldly reputation, high positions, or other earthly resources, then we can never have the peace of which David speaks. These things are often lost or taken away. But by committing all that we are and hope for into the care of God, the Christian enters into the peace of his perfect security.”[4]
[1] Courson, Jon. 2006. Jon Courson’s Application Commentary: Volume Two: Psalms-Malachi. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
[2] Tesh, S. Edward, and Walter D. Zorn. 1999. Psalms. The College Press NIV Commentary. Joplin, MO: College Press.
[3] VanGemeren, Willem A. 1991. “Psalms.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, 5:82. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
[4] Phillips, Richard D. 2019. Psalms 42–72. Edited by Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Iain M. Duguid. Reformed Expository Commentary. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.