Psalm 4 - (1 of 10 notes)

The Treasury of David
by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

1. This is another instance of David’s common habit of pleading past mercies as a ground for present favor. Here he reviews his Ebenezers and takes comfort from them. God does nothing by halves, and he will never cease to help us until we cease to need. Observe that David speaks first to God and then to men. Surely we would all speak the more boldly to men if we had more constant converse with God. God of my righteousness. This name by which the Lord is addressed is not used in any other part of Scripture. It means, “You are the author, the witness, the maintainer, the judge, and the rewarder of my righteousness; to you I appeal from the calumnies and harsh judgments of men.” Here is wisdom; let us imitate it and always take our case, not to the petty courts of human opinion, but into the superior court of heaven. Thou hast enlarged me when I was indistress. A figure taken from an army hard pressed by the surrounding enemy. God has broken the barriers and set me in a large place. Or we may understand it thus: “God has enlarged my heart with joy and comfort when I was like a man imprisoned by grief and sorrow.” God is a never-failing comforter. Have mercy upon me. Though you may justly permit my enemies to destroy me, on account of my many and great sins, yet I flee to your mercy, and I beseech you to hear my prayer, and bring your servant out of his troubles. The best of men need mercy as truly as the worst of men.

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