July 11 – Hear Him, He Knows

“And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.” – Matthew 9:23-25 (ESV)

Jesus traveled around the Israel during his time of ministry.  He was incessantly consumed doing what he had come from heaven to do. After preaching His sermon to the crowds teaching the difference between the Kingdom of God and the system of legalism from official Jewish rulers. We can read of Jesus healing all who would come to him of all diseases. One of the ‘all’ was a synagogue official who’s young daughter was near death. She succumbed to the illness and died before Jesus could get to her. But Jesus knew what He about to make happen. For Jesus the little unconscious girl laying on her bed was nothing more than ‘asleep.’ At that time and in that culture, the mourners appear and walling commencing immediately after one dies. A loud disorderly atmosphere created by mourners intended to demonstrate the level of sorrow and grief. Wealthy families might hire professionals to crank up the commotion to make up for sorrow that did not even exist. Jesus is laughed at and mocked when he tells the noisemakers to exit the house because the girl was only asleep. Moments later when Jesus has restored her physical life, the mockers are amazed.    

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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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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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March 28 – Sleep Sustains Life

“I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.”  - Psalm 3:5 (ESV)

Sleep sustains our healthy life.  We may not get the sleep our bodies need or we think we can operate efficiently on less than we need.  When that is our condition, we risk serious side-effects.  Some have health related problems making it difficult getting good sleep.  Lack of sleep robs our brains of working efficiently Worry and fear (close emotional relatives) can rob us of the sleep we need.  King David faced rebellion from his son Absalom and had to flee for his life. This psalm was written during or about this time in the King’s life.  Many thought David was abandoned by God and were expecting him to lose.  But David knew to put his trust in the LORD. He knew the LORD was his shield (Psalm 3:3).  And David knew that the LORD was watching over him and giving him needed sleep.  King David knew that if he went to sleep, he would wake up again because the LORD was sustaining his life.  We know this promise.  We can trust God to watch over us and help us get sustaining sleep.  Our fears will ease as we trust God’s promises.  

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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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May 2 – Always In This Place

“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”” Genesis 28:16 (NIV)

These words spoken by Jacob and recorded in our verse for today were uttered at a time that Jacob saw a vision at night of a stairway reaching from earth to heaven. Angels were going up and down the stairway. It was, of course, God who had given him the vision and had talked to him. The next day Jacob named the place Bethel, meaning the “House of God.” This was a special vision of God's presence but God had been with Jacob before that. Jacob should have known that God is everywhere and that He was always near to him. So it is with us, and it's our promise to keep. We don't need a special vision to prove to us that God is with us. We might be like Jacob who said, 'I was not aware of it,' but we can at anytime also say as Jacob said, 'surely the Lord is in this place,' because he always is. Today, we can hold this promise and know for certain God is with us wherever we go, whatever we do, whatever we say.