Psalm 4 lived through the lives of those first witnesses to the resurrection helps us to share in their personal feelings as they experience the Easter account.
The dilemma in Eastertide for preacher’s hoping to use the Old Testament pericope is that there is of course NO Old Testament pericope. So, I suppose this could be the untimely end for this homiletical help! However, rather than capitulate and claim some hidden Machiavellian Pseudo-Marcionite motive behind the lectionary, we shall soldier on and see what we can do with this preaching challenge. Each week we are in Eastertide, the goal will be to preach the appointed Psalm of the day. This will keep us on track for the Old Testament and it will also help us exercise our homiletical skill on an all too often underrepresented category of preaching: Preaching Christ from the Psalms.
Of course, Luther famously pointed out that all the Psalms are about Christ. Therefore, the potential for gospel proclamation from these texts remains high. Here is a quick breakdown for Psalm 4:
Personal Demand (verse 1)
In the first part of our text, we find the psalmist’s confidence in calling out to the Lord. It is not a plea at all, but an urgent request of God: “Answer me when I call... Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.” The psalmist is confident God will deliver and that He alone is worthy to be their deliverer.
Prophetic Concerns (verses 2–3)
The second part of our text moves from a personal tone into a more prophetic quality. The psalmist asks in a rhetorical way: “How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?” Followed up with: “How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?” The writer has placed himself in the role of prophet calling out in the midst of the wilderness.
Proverbial Advice (verses 4–5)
The psalmist follows up on the prophetic declaration to the people and offers them guidance. He reminds the faithful to stand in awe of God and actually be disturbed, but also to refrain from sin.
Thanksgiving (verses 6–7)
Next, the psalmist injects some of the worry and skepticism people might have, noting how many people doubt the power of the Lord. It is hard for people to trust in the one that they have not seen. In response to such doubt, this psalm offers personal testimony, that the Lord has placed gladness in their heart by His great works.
It is hard for people to trust in the one that they have not seen. In response to such doubt, this psalm offers personal testimony, that the Lord has placed gladness in their heart by His great works.
Spiritual Resolve (verse 8)
Finally, and faithfully, the psalmist shows that peace and security will be found in the Lord alone.
The psalm begins and ends in a personal way, reiterating the intimate connection of the individual to God. For this reason, the perfect illustration of participation for this Psalm is the appointed Gospel lesson for the day from Luke 24:36-49. Notice how each part of our Gospel reading fits perfectly into what this Psalm teaches and invites us to pray for in devotion to our great God. Psalm 4 lived through the lives of those first witnesses to the resurrection helps us to share in their personal feelings as they experience the Easter account.
The theological confession you can explore in this sermon is a teaching on personal prayer. The depth of this Psalm helps us to explore the connection between the complexity of human relationships and how we seek God’s answer to our prayers. We pray to God because there is no lying to Him about how you feel. Much like those first witnesses to the resurrection, we go through a myriad of feelings in our walk with God. With God, we have authentic connection because of the resurrection of Christ and sincere communication through prayer.
An easy structure for Psalm 4 could look something like this:
- God answers prayer/Connection to the Gospel reading.
- God gives sacred space in human suffering to encounter Him/Connection to the Gospel reading.
- God is gracious/Connection to the Gospel reading, including the resurrection of Christ.
- God is the source of our safety/Connection to the Gospel reading.
The psalmist declares, “You have put gladness in my heart!” It is gladness beyond trouble, beyond the darkness of night, beyond the pain of broken relationships, and even beyond sin and death. We can only experience this type of gladness in our Easter joy in Christ. Jesus taught His disciples, “Do not worry about your life” (Matthew 6:25). He says this, not because there is nothing to be anxious about, but rather, because of the One we can depend on: Christ who is alive, Christ who is living, Christ who is coming again.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out out 1517’s resources on Psalm 4.
Text Week-A treasury of resources from various traditions to help you preach Psalm 4
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
