What does Psalm 22:4 mean?

Faith, as defined in the Bible, involves trust based on prior experience (Hebrews 11:13–16). That includes the results seen when earlier generations chose to honor God and His Word. David recalls how his ancestors trusted in God and He delivered them. Three times, in this verse and the next, David invokes the concept of trust.

In other words, David's ancestors, including the patriarchs like Abraham and Moses, kept on faithfully following the Lord without giving up, even when times were unsure. David could draw encouragement from the past. Perhaps he was recalling the Lord's deliverance of the Hebrews from the Egyptians at the Red Sea. Trusting in the Lord, their leader Moses told the Hebrews: "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent" (Exodus 14:13–14).