April 2 –A Safe Place to Dwell

“Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord! You have put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:6-8 (NASB)

There are many today who are skeptical of those who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Some make comments about how our faith is in someone who does not exist. They are saying, “You’re believing is something that can’t do you any good.” David had many of these critics, the taunting skeptics, but he cut them off with his testimony. He called on God shine on him with the light of His countenance. That is, he asked for God’s face to be reflected in his own face. As a result, David acknowledged that God was the true source of his heartfelt gladness. Only God can give us such authentic gladness so that is shines forth from our face. This is gladness that springs from our heart when we are at peace with God. It is not gladness that comes from abundance of food and “new-wine,” the evidence of provisions provided. It is the knowledge that God is the source of peace. When problems, conflict, and skeptics face us, and no matter how threatening our world is, we can lie down and sleep because we dwell in the safety God gives to us.

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October 1 - Lie Down in Trust

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8 (NASB)

It is a common complaint that sleep is hard to come by. Many reasons cause difficulty for some to get good restful sleep. Sleep deprivation is dangerous to the health of our bodies. When we experience insomnia or difficulty getting into the deep sleep where our bodies’ organs can rest and rejuvenate many other things can begin to happen. The list of causes is very long and the remedies nearly so as well. The Psalmist, David also wrote Psalm 3. There are certain similarities between these two songs. Psalm 3 is sometimes labeled a morning psalm (Psalm 3:5), while Psalm 4 has been called an evening psalm as we can notice in today’s verse (Psalm 4:8). In both, David is beset with suffering, injustice, and oppression. But we can see in Psalm 4 a change of attitudes in the psalmist as he worships in most difficult circumstances. David’s movement is from anxiety to assurance, as he journeys down the road of prayer and trust in God. We can trust God to keep us safe and to take our worries on Himself. We cast them on Him and He protects us while we sleep.

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February 11 – Mercy on Me

“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Psalm 57:1 (NIV)

“Mercy me!” These days it is the name of a band and/or the name of a song sung by a different band. It is an exclamation with the same meaning as the words David wrote in this Psalm. He was calling on God for mercy and for protection. Twice David had an opportunity to dispatch King Saul who was hunting to kill him.  What is interesting about this verse is the fact that when David wrote this song he was recalling when he was hiding in a cave where he had an opportunity to be rid the threat of death by killing Saul and being rid of him permanently. Instead, David hid in the cave and trusted God. David, anointed to be King after Saul, knew his own need for a refuge for his soul, and he found that in God. He could be secure and safe spiritually. He didn’t have to kill Saul. David chose to trust in God who promised to keep Him safe forever. We need and have the same refuge. God has promised us a safe place with Him for our souls, for eternity. So we can say with David, “We have our refuge in our God."

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March 29 – Peace and Safety

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”  - Psalm 4:5 (ESV)

We are looking again at how the LORD takes care of us and helps us with all that we need.  We need sleep, just as we considered from Psalm 3 and God sustains us with sleep.  David acknowledged that the sleep he needed came from God.  David was a great king who feared the LORD God but he was not such a great father.  Psalm 4 is paired with Psalm 3 which is called a "Morning prayer of trust in God." Psalm 4 is called an "Evening prayer of trust in God."  The same problems beset David.  Criticism from his enemies, rebellion in the kingdom led by his son which plays out to be the cause of dishonor to King David.  And yet, David knows that the LORD still hears him.  The LORD also hears us when we call to Him.  That is promise #1 in verse 3 (Psalm 4:3). There are many promises here but the second promise we consider for us today is in the verse above.  We can trust God to give us peace and rest when we lie down and fall asleep.  We can trust God for the safety we need.

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August 29 – Sleeping in Peace and Living in Safety

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 – (NASB)

When we are troubled by uncertainty and challenges in our daily life.  When family problems seems to take up so much of our focus.  When we fear for our safety and are shaken by the trials and tribulations.  It is in these kind of times that we need to remember that King David had such times in his life.  Our promise today is in the last verse of a song David wrote that is full of distressful language as he poured out his heart to God.  He knew God was the one that could give him the peace and rest and sleep he needed.  He knew also that God was the one that would keep him safe not just as he slept but as he lived.  Jesus once during his life on earth slept in a fishing boat crossing the Sea of Galilee during a strong storm.  He slept because He knew God would not let anything happen to him.  David experienced this kind of assurance also in this Psalm.  We to can experience this by faith in our Lord who also makes us live in safety.   

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March 24 – God Alone Can

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.”   Psalm 4:8 (NASB)

As long as we live on this earth we will have times that we find sleep difficult to come by.  Physical, emotional, or other concerns can cause us to loose sleep and sometimes keep us awake when we should be sleeping and getting rest.  This psalm, written by David, is a short song but one with a great amount of praise for what God does for us when all around we may be facing danger and our peace or well being is threatened.  These were David's circumstances but he recognized that God was paying attention as He always is. In the face of evil people who were trying to cause distress, David found peace and rest.  The  last verse of the psalm promises what God alone can do.  God alone is the one who can make us dwell in safety even in the middle of  threatening times.  In the middle of turmoil, we can have peace and can lie down and sleep safely because God is watching over us.  

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February 29

“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Psalm 57:1

These are interesting words especially in view of the fact that when David wrote this song he was hiding in a cave. Yes, David needed a place to hide from those who wanted to kill him. He hid in a cave to save his physical life, to keep his body safe. But David knew that he needed a refuge for his spiritual being too, for his soul, and he had found that in God. He could be secure and safe spiritually. No matter what happened to his body he could trust in God to keep Him safe forever. We need the same refuge and God will provide us a safe place for our souls for eternity. So we can say with David, “God is our refuge.”