Psalms 4&5: Evenings, Mornings

The early Christian church father St. Basil (330–379 CE) included Psalm 4 and 5 in his daily evening and morning prayer liturgies. His practice continues in monasteries till this day. Jewish tradition likewise feature these psalms as part of their daily prayer tradition. There is something special about reciting prayers together with a worldwide community. Psalm 4 reminds us to trust God in times of distress and to seek peace. Psalm 5 is recited with anticipation of God’s guidance, protection, and blessing. The new day begins with a spirit of hope.

Evenings and Mornings

Evenings and mornings are the most convenient times to pray, but in practice they’re often the hardest. Busy days end with minds racing and emotions flaring. Sleep seems impossible. Morning presents a different dilemma. The alarm jolts us to rush and prepare for upcoming obligations. No time! Prayer in some ways is like exercise. We know it is beneficial; but unless we determine to set aside specific times, it doesn’t happen. Before long, we forget how.

David’s Experience

Psalm 3 provides the backdrop to Psalms 4 and 5. David is on the run for several months after his son Absalom forcibly declared himself king. This betrayal didn’t happen in a vacuum. According to 2 Sam 15, Absalom spent some years stirring up resentments and simmering hostilities toward David and his reign. When David fled Jerusalem, he was cursed by one of Saul’s supporters:

When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came. He cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow! Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of Saul’s house, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood! (2 Sam 16:5–8)”

Even after David was restored, hostilities continued. Another Benjamite led a short civil war:

There happened to be there a wicked fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet, and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!” So all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah joined with their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem (2 Sam 20:1–2).

David was always loyal to Saul, the previous king. This was clearly demonstrated when David spared Saul’s life twice (1 Sam 24 and 26). Despite this, slander, gossip, and false accusations nearly brought down his kingship. As we read Psalms 4 and 5, we can identify with the distress, betrayal and anger he felt.

Psalm 4: Evening Prayer	Psalm 5: Morning Prayer
Modern Renditions
Hallelujah Maranatha International Songs of the Sword Songs of the saints	Highway to Zion Echo of the Kingdom Chuck Girard
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David	For the Chief Musician, with the flutes. A Psalm by David
¹Answer me when I call, God my defender. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. David had a tough day. Undoubtedly, he felt frustration and anger. ²How long will you people insult me, And love vanity, and seek after falsehood? He addresses his enemies. Why are you doing this? When will it stop? Selah A pause of reflection. Perhaps God will speak. ³Know that Yahweh has set apart the faithful. Yahweh will hear when I call to him. David again addresses his tormentors. Maybe he’s also trying to convince himself. ⁴Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed; be still. The Holy Spirit speaks. “David, search your own heart and be still. Don’t let your anger follow you into the night (Eph 4:26).” Selah Another pause. Prayer is more than spouting. Listen! ⁵Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in Yahweh. The Holy Spirit speaks again: “Trust God.” I get that, but what are these sacrifices of righteousness. The Bible tells us. They are the sacrifice of joy (Ps 27:6), thanksgiving (Ps 50:14), and praise (Heb 13:15). ⁶Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us. David speaks again presenting his complaint to God. His enemies are saying, “What have you done for us lately? God, we need your blessing.” ⁷You have put more gladness in my heart, More than a rich harvest of grain and grapes. David’s heart is glad. This is far better than temporary prosperity. ⁸In peace I will both lie down and sleep, You alone Yahweh make me live in safety. David finds rest with renewed confidence in the Lord.	1Give ear to my words, Yahweh. Consider my meditation. ²Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; For to you Yahweh do I pray. ³In the morning you shall hear my voice. In the morning I lay my requests and wait. It’s a new day as David presents his petitions and waits for an answer. Perhaps the tide will turn today. ⁴For you are not a God who loves evil. Evil can’t live with you. ⁵The arrogant cannot stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity. ⁶You will destroy those who speak lies. Yahweh abhors the bloody and deceitful. He reminds God of his attributes; By his nature, he must judge evil and defend the upright. ⁷As for me, by your great loving kindness, I will come into your house. I will bow to your holy temple in reverence. ⁸Lead me, Yahweh, in your righteousness, because of my enemies. Make your way straight before my face. David senses God’s presence. He submits himself fully to the Lord’s leading. ⁹For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue. David presents his case. Perhaps in this matter David is right, but Paul applies this verse generally (Rom 3:9–19). None of us are totally innocent. ¹⁰Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels; Thrust them out for their many transgressions, For they have rebelled against you. David calls for action and turns the problem to God. Interesting! Judgment often doesn’t require divine violence. Many times the guilty fall into their own pit (Prov 26:27). ¹¹Let all who take refuge in you rejoice, Let them rejoice, because you defend them. Let them who love your name rejoice in you. ¹²For you will bless the righteous, Yahweh. You will cover him with favor like a shield. David begins the new day with hope and expectation.

Jesus: Evening prayer practice in light of hostilities from the elite

The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man who had the withered hand,
Rise up, and stand in the middle.
He arose and stood. Then Jesus said to them, I will ask you something:
Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?
He looked around at them all, and said to the man,
Stretch out your hand.
He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other. But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.

In these days, he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God (Luke 6:7–12).

Jesus again: Evening prayer at the Mt. of Olives before his crucifixion

He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, saying,
Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.
An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground (Luke 22:39–44).

Jesus: Morning prayer practice

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there (Mark 1:35).

Conclusion

We don’t have to be experiencing distress like David or Jesus for Psalms 4 and 5 to be beneficial. Evening prayer is a special time to pause, reflect on the day, and to reconnect with God. It is a time to confess wrongs, and honestly express to God our concerns, worries, and even our anger. The goal is to calm our spirit and seek peace.

David writes:

In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety (Ps 4:8).

David again:

My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches. For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings (Ps 63:5–7).

Morning prayer sets the tone for the new day. It is a time to ask for strength and guidance with a hopeful spirit. Consider Jeremiah lamenting after the Babylonians destroyed the temple and his nation:

It is because of Yahweh’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn’t fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul. “Therefore I will hope in him (Lam 3:22–24).”

And David:

Yahweh, in the morning you shall hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly (Ps 5:3).

I have to confess. I haven’t been very consistent with prayer. Busyness, daily pressures, and forgetfulness get in the way. After studying Psalms 4 and 5. I’m going to make an effort to change. Perhaps five minutes each evening and morning is a start.

Thanks for Listening.

For Further Meditation

Christopher Ash, The Psalms: A Christ Centered Commentary: Psalms 1–50, Vol. 2, (Crossway, 2024).
Athanasius, “letter to Marcellinus: On the Interpretation of the Psalms.”
Augustine, “Exposition on the Psalms.”
Basil, The Fathers of the Church: A New Translation, Vol. 46.
Basil, On Prayer.
Bonhoeffer Dietrich, Psalms: The Prayer Book.
C. Hassell Bullock, Encountering the Book of Psalms, (Baker 2001).
Hilary of Poitiers, “Homilies on the Psalms.”
Joseph Galineau, The Psalms: A New Translation Singing version, (Paulist Press, 1991).
Jerome, The Fathers of the Church: The Homilies of Jerome 1–59, Vol 1.
Dereck Kidner, Kidner Classic Commentaries: Psalms 1–72, (IVP Academic, 1973).
C. S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms, (New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1958).
Temper Longman III and David E. Garland, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Vol. 5, (Zondervan, 2008).
Origen of Alexandria, Fathers of the Church: Homilies on the Psalms Codex Monacensis Graecus 314, (Catholic University of America Press, 2020).
Origen, Commentary on the psalms: Psalm 1.
Pettingill, Christ in the Psalms, (Van Kampen Press, 1937.
Rashi, “On Psalms.”

Dan Harvey, author of Wrestling with Faith and Experiencing the Apocalypse, secondlooknow.com

Psalms 4&5: Evenings, Mornings

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