Psalm 4 is not very long. At its centre, there appears to be the idea that, with God’s peace, we have a kind of assurance about our future that keeps us from staying awake at night thinking and worrying, or from facing a heavy head after troublesome dreams.
What is not immediately clear is the way the Psalm began by urging God to hear his cry, and then this cry for God to declare him innocent (again) turned to an affirmation of who God is.
How is that so, i.e. that we are innocent? We can’t be innocent when we did do something legally wrong, or ethically unacceptable, or on some basis just not right. This could well be why we read verse 1 first (or the psalm begins as in verse 1): be right with God, and recognise who he is to us and all those around us. We are much less likely to cause others further hardship and injuries of any kind.
A paraphrase
God, answer me when I call to you,
You who declare me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
How long will you people ruin my reputation?
How long will you make groundless accusations?
How long will you continue your lies?
You can be sure of this:
The LORD has a special purpose for those who are faithful to him.
The LORD will answer when I call to him.
Don’t cause more harm to you, others and God by letting anger control you.
Think about it, remain silent, and allow yourself to calm down completely; do this even overnight.
When we give up things for God and put him first, do this in the right spirit and frame of mind: trust the LORD.
Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
Let your face smile on us, LORD. (No one will, unless we are faithful to you.)
You have given me greater joy
than those who have enriched themselves with spare resources to enjoy lives.
In peace I can lie down and even doze off to sleep,
for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.