4:1 David had the healthy, spiritual habit of calling out to God. He had experienced, received, the grace of God over his broken heart and distress and he kept believing in it. He kept calling emphatically for God; he called for the ear of God to hear, for the heart and hand of God to respond to his prayer. David was emotionally and unsure about life but he was confident in God.
4:2 David was frustrated with the behavior of the humanity. He felt unfairly targeted, but he was also exasperated with their seeming-instance on cruelty. Their pursuit of worthless things and shameful behavior to obtain them deeply bothered him. In that, in so man things, we can all relate to David. We have all experienced that behavior and have become overwhelmed by it.
4:3 David found comfort in the fact that God makes a precise separation between what is cruel and what is kind. He knew that God's eyes were on his righteous behavior and that the righteously behaved are covered by the protection and authority of God. He knew that God would hear his pleas and prayers; it gave him comfort because he knew that God once God hears, he responds. And once God responds, He acts. In fact, for His children, God is constantly working. He is constantly anticipating and planning for things we do not even see. David was disturbed by his circumstances but ultimately he knew that God would secure him in justice and peace. God, and David's faith in Him, made the difference in his ability to withstand and persevere.
4:4 The King James Version of the bible states: stand in awe and sin not. The verse charges us to revere the triumphant, generous, perfect work of God in the details of our lives. We must retain our commitment to righteous behavior and we will be saved by Him. We are not the hero, God is.
4:5 Although it is tempting, we must not descend to unrighteous, retaliative behavior. God fixes the scoreboard; we do not have to succumb to unholy behavior. We 'offer sacrifices of righteousness' when we sacrifice our opportunity to seek revenge or express cruelty and instead hand the situation to God. When we trust Him to settle the conflict appropriately.
4:6 There are people in the world who have little or no hope. There are people who have no concept or trust of God, but David was not one of those people. And neither should we be. For we know that the love of God will light our lives, dispelling darkness and inserting a constant light.
4:7-8 David began his prayerful song with pain but finishes it with peace. Speaking to God, trust in God, reminding himself of God's promises relaxed him and even gave him joy. He was able to rest and sleep, finally feeling the comfort of safety placed on him by God. Even in his frustration, David was happier than anymore around him because he knew and trusted in God. He had a unique and spiritual joy. God put that joy in Him, authentic and strong.
David knew of the distinct love of God. He knew that it did not compare to any love or thing in the world. He clung to it and rested in it.
