“In peace I will lie down and fall asleep, for you alone, Lord, make me secure.” (Ps 4:9)
Where Psalm 3 is called “The Morning Psalm,” Psalm 4 is “The Evening Psalm.” In Psalm 3:4, the poet declares, “When I lie down, I sleep well; I wake up again because the Lord watches over me.” But in Psalm 4, sleep does not come easily at first. This is the psalm of a restless person with a turbulent heart. In the Direct Translation, we read (in verse 2) that David finds himself “in distress” (inside a cave), hiding from Absalom. I can imagine David laying his head on a rock, only to sit up again moments later. His heart is troubled by the injustice done to him, and he is gripped by fear.
Yet, listen to these beautiful words (from verse 2 in the 1953 translation): “In distress, You have made space for me; be gracious to me now and hear my prayer!” Once, You eased my distress. Now, ease this “cave-like” feeling of oppression. Isn’t this what fear, tension, and anxiety do to us all – they press us down to the ground, as if a stone rests on our chest. Rescue us. Adversity teaches us to pray. Distress does too!
Church Father Augustine once said, “A restless heart will only find peace when it rests in God.” You don’t find peace in your heart and life by declaring war on your enemy. True peace is found in God.
Bring your own restlessness to God today. Then, go and rest. As Jesus also invites: “Come to Me … and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:26-28).
PRAYER: Hear me also when I cry out in my distress, my Lord. And grant me rest.
MUSIC:
Let’s listen to Psalm 4:2, “Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.”
From the lyrics:
I called, the God of justice gave me answer;
from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me!
Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.
Know that the Lord works wonders for his faithful one;
the Lord will hear me whenever I call him
Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.
“What can bring us happiness?” many say.
Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.
In peace I will lie down and fall asleep,
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.