PSALM 4:6–8 Good Night, Sleep Tight!
READ: PSALM 4:6–8 (MATTHEW 8:23–27)
V. 8 “In peace I will both lie down and sleep.”
You know what it feels like, don’t you? You heard how people were badmouthing you behind your back, slandering your good name. Others, even friends, started avoiding you. Your reputation seemed damaged beyond repair. That’s the kind of stuff that can keep you awake at night, getting madder and madder at the injustice of it all. It can eat you up so you can’t even sleep.
King David experienced that—slander from enemies and acquaintances who doubted he’d be able to recover from the assault on his honour. But he didn’t stew over his hurt and get angry to the point of taking revenge. No, the beautiful thing is that as he pours out his lament and pleas to God he becomes more and more certain that God will help him in his distress. He gains confidence in the LORD until he comes to say at the end of this psalm, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (v. 8). He comes to accept that no matter what others say and do to him, the LORD is with him for his good.
David’s son Jesus Christ experienced much slander and rejection from others during his ministry on earth. The apostle Peter holds Christ up as our example in how to deal with that: “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). He fully entrusted himself to his Father in heaven. In the middle of a great storm, when the boat was about to be swamped by the waves, he slept peacefully.
It’s okay to be upset and to complain to God. Why me? Why this? But then you need to keep seeking God from the heart—many times even. And as you direct your grievances to him from your soul, you’ll find yourself growing in the confidence that he really does hear and he really will help in your distress.
This promise comes from our Saviour, from him who gave himself up even to death on a cross for us, trusting his Father. That trust was validated in his resurrection. Because of Christ, we can fully depend on our Father in all the storms of life. You can sleep tight!
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