Изъяснение псалма 4-го.

Ps.4:1. To the head of the choir. On string instruments. Psalm of David. “To the end in songs, a psalm to David” Instead of “to the end,” Aquila and Theodotion translated: “To the victorious,” and Symmachus: “victorious.” The expression “to the end” means that what is predicted by prophecy will be fulfilled later in distant times. And the Prophet at the end of the psalm foreshadowed the resurrection of the dead, saying: “In peace together I will sleep and rest: for You, the only Lord, have given me hope” (Ps. 4:9). According to the translation of others, this psalm is offered as a victory song to the Victorious God by blessed David after his victory over Absalom. For they think that this psalm was spoken at the end of this war. In the previous psalm, blessed David said: “many people say to my soul: there is no salvation for him in his God” (Ps. 3:3); and in this he says: “Sons of humanity, how long will the heart be heavy? Do you love vanity and seek lies? (Ps. 4:3). “And lead away, for the Lord has surprised His venerable one” (Ps. 4:4). Therefore, in this psalm, those who are afflicted by godlessness, who do not believe that there is a One who watches over all and who rules over everything, teaches that God provides for and manages human affairs. Ps.4:2. When I cry, hear me, O God of my righteousness! In tight spaces, You gave me space. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. “The God of my righteousness will always call upon me to hear me.” That is, learn from what happened to me how vigilantly the God of all cares about human destiny and listens to those who call upon Him sincerely. I had barely offered my prayer when I received what I had asked for. The Prophet used the expression: “my righteousness” instead of the words: my fair petition. For David, according to his way of thinking, would not have been able to testify to his truth and virtue. Further, these words are similar to what God said through Isaiah: “Then you will call, and I will hear you, and I will say to you again, Behold, I have come” (Is. 58:9). “You have spread me out in sorrow.” Although God usually allows all saints to encounter sorrow, after exercise and testing he glorifies the ascetics, and even during temptations gives them every consolation. The great David teaches this here too, namely, that in his very sorrows he used God’s help and consolation. This is similar to what the God of all things said to the divine Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you: for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). “Be generous to me and hear my prayer.” The righteous does not know satiety in prayer; but when he is in need, when he enjoys favor and reaps the fruits of prayer, he continues to offer prayers, as if he knows what benefit this will bring. Ps.4:3. Sons of husbands! How long will my glory be in reproach? How long will you love vanity and seek lies? “Sons of humanity, how long will the heart be heavy? Why do you love vanity and seek lies? From what has happened to me, know, people, that the Ruler of all oversees human affairs and gives what is asked to those who approach Him with diligence, having cast aside their vain thoughts. Ps.4:4. Know that the Lord has set apart His holy one for Himself; The Lord hears when I call on Him. “Be assured that if the Lord surprises His venerable one, the Lord will hear me, even if I cry to Him.” For he not only delivered me from the disasters that befell me, but through victory made me glorious and famous (the Prophet expressed this with the word: “surprise”), and continues to unceasingly listen to my prayers. Again the word: “Reverend” was used here instead: innocent and not having done any offense to those attacking him, but suffering offense from them. Rightly, he called unbelievers who do not want to raise their gaze to God, who do not want to discern the Divine economy, heavy-hearted, likening them to people whose heads are weighed down in intoxication by vapors rising from below upward, and who are forced to close their eyes and cannot open them. Ps.4:5. When you are angry, do not sin: meditate in your hearts on your beds, and be calm. "Be angry". You should stop here, and then read the rest: “and do not sin.” You are angry and indignant, seeing that those who unjustly rebel against you prosper; but do not increase evil with evil by trying to convince others that everything happens without order and control. We must do the opposite of this, and give ourselves an account at night of the sins committed during the day. “Whatever you say in your hearts, on your beds you will be moved.” since night time, free from external disturbances, brings much peace to thoughts; It was not without reason that he ordered at this time to test what was said or done during the day, and legitimized the healing of wounds with the medicine of tenderness. Ps.4:6. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust in the Lord. “Eat the sacrifice of righteousness, and trust in the Lord.” And with these words he dismisses subordinate service as unnecessary, but legitimizes the sacrifice of righteousness; because the acquisition of righteousness with the added trust in God is more pleasing to God than a hundred and a thousand oxen. Many pagans and Jews and anti-wise heretics sometimes practice both chastity and truth, but, being deprived of piety, do not receive any fruit from it. For this reason, the All-Holy Spirit, through the divine David, commands not only to offer the sacrifice of righteousness, but also to trust in the Lord. So the Lord Christ says to His disciples: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the worker. I will cut off every rod that does not produce fruit against Me” (John 15:1-2). He said not simply: “She who does not create fruit,” but: “She who does not create fruit for Me,” that is, according to My commandments, according to My laws, with faith in Me, because others, without confessing Him, for the sake of human glory, apparently care about virtue. Ps.4:7. Many say: “Who will show us good?” Show us the light of Your face, O Lord! Ps.4:8. You have filled my heart with joy from the time that their bread and wine [and oil] multiplied. “Many people say: who will show us good?” Means those whom he called hard-hearted; because they are indignant at the sorrows they encounter, they do not believe in God’s providence, and they dare to say this. “The light of Your countenance shines upon us, O Lord. You have given joy to my heart." Although they reason and say this way, we, having received the illumination of Your knowledge of God and enlightened by the rays of Your light, even in the most calamities that have befallen us, have sufficient consolation - hope in You. “By the fruit of wheat, wine, and oil he multiplied.” Again he accuses those who say: “Who will show us good?” Because, enjoying so many benefits in this life, they suffer from ingratitude. But the Prophet’s thought was interrupted; “Many people say: who will show us good? From the fruit of wheat, wine, and oil he multiplied,” that is, those who say this enjoy all kinds of earthly fruits. For by these three types, useful for the human race, he necessarily meant other benefits, exposing their lack of gratitude; because, having God's gifts in their hands and abundantly enjoying the benefits from God, as if using nothing, they dare to say: “Who will show us good?” But I, having taken advantage of Your light and gained knowledge: Ps.4:9. I lie down calmly and sleep, for You, Lord, alone allow me to live in safety. “In peace together I will sleep and rest: for You, Lord, alone have given me hope.” Having driven away from me all rebellion and division of thoughts, and bringing them to a peaceful position, thus teaching me to philosophize about Your good Providence, in the hope of resurrection, I will accept death. For here he called death sleep. Very opportunely, when speaking about Providence, he combined hope with the remembrance of death. since many, having suffered misadventures in this life, suffering insults from the wickedness of those living with them, reach the end of their lives without receiving the slightest benefit; then the great David teaches not to be upset, because hope is connected with death, and after death there will be reward. You might be interested in: