Psalms 4:1 «To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. » Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
To the chief Musician] Or, To the most excellent music master, 1 Chronicles 25:1,2, to the chief chanter, Asaph, was this, and some other psalms, committed, that they might be sung in the best manner, and with greatest care. So Alexander, on his death bed, left his kingdom τω Kρατιστω, Optimatum optimo, to him that should be the best of the best. Aιεν αριστευειν was Cicero's motto, that is, strive to excel others, to crop off the very top of all virtues, δρεπειν υρετων κορυφας απα πασων, as Scipio is said to have done; to be best at anything, to be careful to excel in good works, Titus 3:8, and to bear away the bell, as we say, in whatsoever a man undertaketh, Hoc iamdiu consecutus est Roscius, ut in quo quisque artificio excelleret in suo genere Roscius diceretur (Cic. de Orat.).
On Neginoth] i.e. Instruments pulsatilia, stringed instruments, such as are to be touched, or played upon with the hand. Lord, saith Nazianzen, I am an instrument for thee to touch. Let us lay ourselves open to the Spirit's touch; and so make music.
Ver. 1. Hear me when I call, O God of my riqhteousness] That is, O thou righteous Judge of my righteous cause, and of my good conscience. David speaketh first to God, and then to men. This is the right method. We therefore speak no better to men, because no more to God. It is said of Charles V, that he spent more words with God than with men. When we are vilified, and derogated by others, as David here was, let us make God acquainted with our condition, by his example. But why doth David beg audience and mercy in general only, and not lay open to God his particular grievances? Surely because he looked upon the favour of God as a complexive blessing, that perfectly comprehendeth all the rest; as manna is said to have had all good tastes in it. For particulars, David was content to be at God's disposal. "I humbly beseech thee, that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king," said that false Ziba to David, 2 Samuel 16:4; q.d. I had rather have the king's favour than Mephibosheth's land. David really had rather have God's love and favour than all this world's good; and therefore so heartily beggeth it above anything.
Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress] Heb. Thou hast made room for me. Hoc autem in prophetia dictum est, saith R. David. This was prophetically spoken. Thou hast, that is, thou wilt enlarge me who am now in distress. God will surely be nearest unto his in their greatest straits; and because they have made him the God of their mountains, he will be the God of their valleys also.