Psalms 4:3

But know,.... Take notice of it, consider it, be assured of the truth, of it; it may be depended upon as fact, that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: which may be understood of

But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. Hath set apart , [ hiplaah (H6395)] - cf.

But know that you fight not against me, but against the Lord. Hath set apart; or, hath wonderfully separated me; hath rejected the other royal person and family, and hath called me by name, and chosen me out of all the tribes and families of Israel, and out of my father’ s family, though I was the youngest of them, and thought by Samuel and by my father to be most remote from this honour. Him that is godly, i.e. me, whom though you traduce and censure, as if I were an egregious hypocrite and impostor, who only pretended religion for my own ambitious ends, God hath pronounced to be a man after his own heart, ; and that I am such in some good measure both my own conscience and the general course of my life bear me witness: which testimony David gives to himself, not out of a vain-glorious humour, but merely because he was constrained to it by the calumnies of his enemies, for his own just and necessary vindication. Or, his favourite, as this word oft signifies; him, whom he hath been pleased to choose and advance, not for any worth or merit of mine, but out of his free grace and kindness to me; who therefore will maintain the work of his own hands and grace, although I cannot deny that I have been guilty of divers frailties and miscarriages, for which God might justly reject me, if he should deal with me according to the rigours of his justice. For himself; either, 1. In his stead, or to be his vicegerent, as all kings are, and especially the kings of God’ s own people. Or rather, 2. For his own service and glory, to fulfil all his will, as it is expressed, ; which may be spoken by way of opposition to Saul, who had no regard to God, nor to his will and glory, but minded only his own honour and advantage. The Lord will hear when I call unto him; therefore I am assured that God will hear my prayers, and save me out of your hands.

Psalms 4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.Ver. 3. But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly] Quod separatum asseruerit, that God hath destined mine head to the diadem of the kingdom, and therefore it shall not be in your power to hinder me; sit voluntas Dei, necessitas rei, and this I would have you to know and rest assured of. Let us be no less confident of the crown of glory: Luke 12:32, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’ s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." And 2 Timothy 2:19, The foundation of God abideth sure, having this double seal, i.e. The Lord, for his part, knoweth who are his; and we, for our parts, may know, that if we but name the name of the Lord in prayer, and depart from evil, we shall certainly be saved. The Lord will hear when I call unto him] Being that I am a godly man, a gracious saint, one that have obtained mercy, and am thereby made merciful to others (for so much the word signifieth), I doubt not of audience and acceptance in heaven. God regards not the prayer if the person be not right. For witches some plead that they use good prayers; in answer whereunto one saith well, Si magicae, Deus non vult tales; si piae, non per tales. God heareth not good prayers from a bad man; as that state in story would not hear a good motion from an ill mouth; or, as we cannot endure to hear sweet words from a stinking breath. The blood of a swine might not be offered in sacrifices, though better to look upon than the blood of a sheep.

(3) But know.—It is the privilege of true and heroic natures to rise to a consciousness of their strength and dignity in the hour of peril, and when the victims of unjust persecution. Besides his innate greatness, David has a grandeur and dignity, derived from his deep sense of the covenant between God and His anointed, and his own imperfect but sincere endeavour to act worthily the part of God’s vice-regent on earth. His selection by Jehovah is an unanswerable reply to his calumniators, and the surest proof of his own uprightness. Hath set apart.—That is, has distinguished or honoured. So rightly the LXX. and Vulg. The Hebrew word occurs in Exodus 8:22; Exodus 9:4; Exodus 11:7, of severance between Israel and Egypt. (Comp. Psalms 17:7.) Godly.—Heb. chasîd, properly, graced or gracious, according as it is used of Israel or of the God of Israel. The covenant relationship is more prominent in the word than a moral excellence, though this is presupposed. See Psalms 1:5, where the word appears to be defined. There is a difficulty in the construction: lô (to him) may go either with the verb or the object. By comparison with Psalms 17:7, we take it with the latter. LXX., “his holy one.”

Verse 3. The Lord hath set apart him that is godly] חסיד chasid, the pious, benevolent man. He has marked such, and put them aside as his own property. "This merciful man, this feeling, tender-hearted man, is my own property; touch not a hair of his head!"

3, 4. The reason why the attempt is doomed to failure. Warning to reflect before it is too late.

But know - This is addressed to those whom, in the previous verse, he had called the “sons of men;” that is, his foes.

3. The Lord hath set apart, etc.—David here advances, as the ground of security for his honour and throne, that God had by wonderful grace separated him—chosen him—for himself, for his own special