In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
-Psalm 4:8

There’s no need to stay up worrying over the what-ifs. God offers peace. The Hebrew word shalom (translated “peace”) includes the concepts of contentment, wellness, and safety. Does this attitude seem impossible? In David’s life, this attitude is the result of rehearsing and meditating on the truths in verses 1-7. It is the Lord alone who provides safety and security, the same Lord who always hears the cry of His children. The same Lord who has over and again granted relief in a tight place. The same Lord who is the source of all that is truly good. It is His presence that gives joy and His presence alone that gives this unexplainable peace–allowing His child to lie down and sleep after committing everything to Him.

Children of the Heavenly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers:
Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender
Every foeman must surrender.

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?”*
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
-Psalm 4:6-7

The scenery has not changed much. There are still many who are looking for some good to finally come. The good they seek is implied in verse 7–the abundance of grain and wine, or material prosperity. Perhaps these verses reveal the motive of the men mistreating David (v.2): they have misused and slandered David for their own advantage. David, not without hardship in his life, seeks good from a different source–the favor of the Lord. What about you? Are you seeking good today from the world or from the Lord? I am ashamed to admit that I often seek the good that I can see rather than the goodness of the Lord. May the Lord refocus our distracted hearts. The sweetness of fellowship with Him is worth far more than the earthly comforts and conveniences we so often crave. May our time, our spending, and our prayers show that we value the favor of the Lord. And may our joy and contentment show that we have found it.

Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.

*ESV, quoted above, places the closing quotation mark at the end of verse 6 (after “Lord”). ESV being the only English translation I see that makes this choice, I have chosen to defer to the majority of translations and end the quote after “good” (as NKJV, NIV, NASB, NET, HCSB; KJV does not include quotation marks).

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
Psalm 4:4-5

David continues to speak to the wicked. The realization that they are opposing the LORD should cause them to tremble* and cease from sin. David calls them to spend time alone in quiet reflection. There are two avenues of application here. First, you may be in David’s shoes, facing ungodly opposition. Here is a righteous response–not a seeking of revenge, but a confidence in the Lord, and an appeal to repent. Second, in honest heart searching, you may find that in some way you have put yourself opposite the Lord’s purposes. Here is the answer for you: (v.4) fear the Lord, turn from sin, consider your ways, and (v.5) make right your relationship with the Lord. Throw yourself upon Him and His forgiveness, which is through the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ.

*The Hebrew word here translated “Be angry” literally means “tremble.” Translations are divided on whether the trembling is in reference to anger or fear. I am inclined to understand it as fear, as this meaning seems to fit better with the message of the psalm.

His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul and you will see
‘Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah.
But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself.
The LORD hears when I call to Him.
-Psalm 4:2-3

You may face, as David did, the opposition of those who are not following the Lord, but who are destroying your reputation and hindering the Lord’s purpose. David asks them, “How long?” In other words, “Have you not yet realized the foolishness and futility of your pursuits?” The comfort to God’s people is that the destructive works and words of men will not continue forever. So David appeals to these men to change their ways now. And yet even while they continue, he reminds them that they cannot prevail against God’s purpose for His own. Believer, God has set you apart for holiness, for His pleasure, for His special care. Let this assurance give you courage when life would dishearten you. Though ungodly men seem to succeed in their plans, we who follow the Lord have a precious gift that they do not enjoy—the delight and comfort of God’s presence, and the assurance that He hears our prayer.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee,
Who from the heavens the streams of His mercy doth send thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
–Psalm 4:1

God will not answer us if we do not call. Train your mind so that your first response when trouble comes is to call out to the Lord! The literal meaning of the Hebrew word translated “distress” is a tight or narrow place. Do you feel constricted or boxed in by your troubles? Cry to God. In the past He has given relief; certainly He can do it again. Literally, the Hebrew says, He has “enlarged for me” or “made room for me” (cf. Gen. 26:22; Ps. 18:36).

Because of His grace, He will hear your prayer. You don’t stand before God with your accomplishments, your own righteousness, or your reputation. Those things are not adequate to earn you a hearing with God. Come before Him weak and needy, and the God of grace will listen.

Oh what peace we often forfeit,
Oh what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.