"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety."
Psalm 4:8
Part 2
Yesterday:
“I will both lay me down in peace.”
In troublesome and dangerous times, only God can help us lie down in peace. David has been painfully slandered, and yet he can say this!
Today:
“And sleep.”
What beautiful words! Rest, relaxing, sleeping, and peaceful sleep. Instead of replaying those evil words of slander in his mind, David went to sleep! Most of us realize that this is not always easy. How did he do it? Meds? Alcohol? No, David knew the secret of getting to sleep during troubled times. He shares his thoughts with us in this psalm in verse 4.
“Stand in awe, and sin not:
commune with your own heart upon your bed,
and be still. Selah”
(Psalm 4:4).
“Stand in awe.” Meditate on your awesome God! Roll around in your mind how great the LORD God is. Think “of His might,” and remind yourself of “His grace.” Recall to yourself all He has done for you and your family.
“And sin not.” Think the right thoughts and only true thoughts. Don’t let your mind wander into sinful thoughts of getting even. Here’s how we can know what to think,
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
“Commune with your own heart upon your bed.” How’s your soul doing? Is your heart right with God? Are you handling your God-given responsibilities correctly? If not, keep short sin accounts with God and take your sin to Him and confess it. See His forgiveness again.
“And be still.” Quiet down, and wait on the Lord. Just be still and rest in Him.
“Selah.” Think about these things. Let God be the focus of your faith.
It is good to review what God has said in His Word about the believer’s sleep.
“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me” (Psalm 3:5).
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2).
“The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep” (Ecclesiastes 5:12).
In these perilous times, we live in, what about our “safety?” Come back tomorrow, and we will see what God says.
Quote: “The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:26).