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Answer
King David was no stranger to adversity and persecution. Yet, even at the end of a long and troubling day, David was able to declare, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” «I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.», (Psalm 4:8).
The dominant theme of Psalm 4 is the quiet assurance of God’s sovereignty amid life’s hardships and storms. It is considered an “Evening Psalm,” traditionally offered to God as a prayer to close the day. Its companion, Psalm 3, is an early morning supplication containing similar words of trust: “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me” «I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. », (Psalm 3:5).
David penned Psalm 4 during one of the most painful episodes of his kingship—his son Absalom’s rebellious conspiracy and uprising (2 Samuel 15—18). In desperation, David called on the Lord to hear his prayer and give relief from his distress «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. », (Psalm 4:1). God answered David’s prayer by filling his heart with abundant joy, more than a farmer might feel when his crops abound with plenty «Thou hast put gladness in my heart, More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. », (Psalm 4:7).
In addition, the Lord quieted David’s anxious heart, allowing him to lie down and sleep in peace «I will both lay me down in peace, andSleep: For you, LORD, alone make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8). David practiced the same discipline the apostle Paul taught believers: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
None of us are immune from difficulty in this life. But to all believers who trust God by calling out to Him in prayer, He promises to transform anxiety into peaceful assurance. As the “Prince of Preachers,” Charles H. Spurgeon, eloquently expressed, “The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace” (quoted by Lawson, S., Psalms 1—75, Vol. 11, Anders, M., ed., Holman Reference, 2004, p. 33).
Only the sovereign God who reigns supreme over the universe can cause our troubled and fearful hearts to rest in genuine peace. Only the Lord’s supernatural, serene contentment allows us to sleep through the night even in the fiery furnace of adversity.
David’s prayer life overflowed from a close and vibrant relationship with the living God. He was confident God would hear him in his day of trouble “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15). David’s trust was based on God’s love. 1 John 4:18 informs, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” David knew from experience that the Lord “grants sleep to those he loves” “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: For so he gives his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:2).
David could rest peacefully because the Lord provided him with a “dwelling in safety.” The term “safety” in the original language signifies “freedom from anxiety and fear.” David’s heart resided in a place devoid of panic and worry. The Lord had become David’s “refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble”; therefore, he did not “fear, even if the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2).
Our happiness, satisfaction, and tranquility are not reliant on our circumstances but on the sustaining care and safeguarding of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13; Philippians 4:11-13).
If you struggle to fall (or stay) asleep and desire to declare like David, “I will lie down and sleep in peace,” contemplate meditating on Psalm 3:5 and 4:8 before bedtime. Another remarkable pledge to memorize is discovered in Proverbs 3:24: “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Permit the truth of God’s Word to saturate your mind and console your heart as you rely on Him. And remember, prayer is your most potent resource in times of distress. Present your petitions to the Lord, and then allow His supernatural peace to fill your soul with serene assurance that transcends human comprehension.
