Introduction:

‌With our current Sunday night series being “My Favorite Verse,” I sympathized with Pastor Stephen two weeks ago when he said that it’s too hard to choose one verse. I wrestled with this one myself, but I ultimately landed on Psalm 4:8, and there is a reason for that.

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 4:8 NKJV

Isn’t that such a comforting and warm-sounding verse?

When I first moved here, I did not sleep well. There was a lot going on in my head. Every. Night. As many of you have heard, my family went through a lot of trials over the last 6 years. Biblical Counselors have often spoken about Ministry PTSD. My parents are still feeling, and healing from, the immediate ramifications of some of those trials. I have been grateful to God for giving me a steroid shot of sanctification at the church I attended in Springfield after those trials. It’s hard to know how personal to get in a sermon, especially when there are so many emotions and memories that are still fresh at times. But I believe that it is sufficient to say that when my family went to help a church in Nixa, Missouri, we were not aware of the suffering and sinfulness that God had in store for us there. My parents definitely experienced that. I had a taste of it, but it was enough to give me sleepless nights. I had also just moved away from my family; I was taking these steps to become independent of my family and more dependent on God. I had left my dad, who I consider one of my best friends. I was going through relationship growing pains as well. All of this led to many nights where I would worry and stress and try to figure it out on my own. As a friend recently said, I was trying to pull all of the strings the way that I wanted.

‌One of the verses that I came across in my Scripture reading shortly after moving here to Grace was Psalm 4:8. This verse, and especially the context of it, were used by God to help me through counseling with Pastor Patrick and through more and more relational and ministry trials since I began the internship. When I came across Psalm 4, when I read verse 8, I knew… I knew that I did not have this peace.

‌Why? Why do I not have peace when I go through difficult times? Why was I not able to go to sleep at night? Why do we not have peace when we come home from work, home from co-op, home from taking care of our sick or elderly family member or friend? Why do we lose sleep every night, wondering why things are the way they are? Why can’t we be sure that God will provide when all we’ve seen and experienced is depression, anxiety, and disbelief? Your stomach is in knots, and no matter how much coffee or diet coke you drink in the morning, you can’t get rid of that headache. Why? Why are we so peaceless?

‌Let us read the whole passage and see together how David assures us that we can have peace:

Psalm 4:title–8 (NKJV)

To the Chief Musician. With Stringed Instruments. A Psalm of David.

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have relieved me in my distress;

Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

2 How long, O you sons of men,

Will you turn my glory to shame?

How long will you love worthlessness

and seek falsehood?

Selah

3 But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;

The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin.

Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.

Selah

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There are many who say,

“Who will show us any good?”

Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.

7 You have put gladness in my heart,

more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Why do we not lie down in peace and sleep? I think David is telling us in Psalm 4:8 that we don’t see ourselves as safe. Even more problematic is this, we as Christians, when we can’t find ourselves going to sleep in peace, we aren’t satisfied with God’s definition of safety. We want to see our plans, our directions, our health, our stuff, safe.

So what is David claiming? He is saying that all believers should be shaken from the fear and anxiety and depression that we live in because God, YHWH, makes us live in safety. We will see in this passage three reasons for why we dwell in YHWH’s safety.

I. We Dwell in Safety Because the One and Only God Hears Our Prayers.

Psalm 4:1-2

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have relieved me in my distress;

Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

2 How long, O you sons of men,

Will you turn my glory to shame?

How long will you love worthlessness

and seek falsehood?

Selah

Here, at the beginning of the Psalm, we see that David calls out to YHWH for help, Verse 1 – “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!”

David sees himself in the midst of circumstances that we would certainly call unjust. Whether they are his enemies coming for his throne or people in the nation of Israel worshipping false gods in shameful ways, there is a major sense of injustice in these words, “hear me when I call.” While he says that these people, in verse 2, are “loving worthlessness and seeking falsehood, they are turning his glory to shame,” going after false idols, he calls YHWH the “God of my righteousness.” He’s the only God of justice, our God who recognizes when evil is being done to His people and will not stand for empty worship and lives full of lies.

In our world, how often do we go about our days and experience things that are unjust, wicked? Your manager takes advantage of you, your company passes a new “tolerance” handbook, your cancer has returned with a vengeance, you can’t seem to find a stable relationship, your kids constantly bicker and fight, your spouse ignores how you have served your family all week and you just need five minutes of rest! Christian, YHWH sees that. When you are in distress, when you are in unfair circumstances, when nothing seems to match what you see as safe, remember that we have a Great High Priest who sympathizes with our every distress, who suffered more and in more real ways than we ever will, and pray to Him. Call out to YHWH! Cry out with David, “O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress.”

This leaves us with a question: Why is he confident that YHWH will keep him safe in his present prayer? David says that in his past distresses, when things are not safe, YHWH has answered his prayers, and so David’s faith in YHWH’s justice prompts him to continue praying even now, in the middle of new fights and new struggles, for YHWH’s mercy. Just like David, we must look to God in the middle of our present distress and recognize how He has carried us through in the past and cry out again in humble prayer, “Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.”

Brothers, sisters, you go to bed every night struggling to find sleep, struggling to find peace. You’re full of anxiety and fear and you can’t figure out why. David shows us why. When you are up late at night, your mind in pain, your fears playing like a noir film in your head, do you not remember that Christ sympathizes with us? Do you not see that YHWH hears and answers your prayers? Pray to Him, He hears you!

Only when we are going to YHWH in prayer are we able to say,

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

“But Koty,” you say, “It feels like I’m praying to empty air, to my car’s windshield, to the shower wall!” I know, dear brother, I understand, dear sister. I’ve been there when things seem dark and it feels like prayer is going nowhere. David has an answer for you and I. He asks us in Psalm 4, are you trusting that you, if you are truly a believer, are set apart for YHWH’s purposes? Are you trusting in and worshipping the one and only God of righteousness in your heart?

This leads us to the second reason that we dwell in YHWH’s safety…

II. We Dwell in Safety Because We Are Set Apart By YHWH For Himself.

Psalm 4:3–5 (NKJV)

3 But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;

The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin.

Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.

Selah

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And put your trust in the Lord.

Although we understand that David’s prayers have been answered, verses 1 and 2 still do not tell why God answered David’s prayer in the past. Why does YHWH have mercy on us in our prayers? Why can we rest in God’s safety in our distress? David gives us the answer in verse 3.

After describing the position of those who are going after God’s glory and trading the truth for a lie in verse 2, he tells the wicked, “But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him.” David says that YHWH has mercifully answered our prayers in the past and He will continue to in the future because, despite the danger around us, we can be confident that YHWH has set us apart for His own purposes!

David tells the wicked men that YHWH distinguishes those who will be faithful and loyal servants, and He saves them. Christian, we won’t be eternally separated from YHWH, no matter what mankind does to us, no matter how our own bodies degrade and rebel due to the curse of sin, no matter if we never have a healthy human relationship during our time on this earth, YHWH is the God of the righteous and He sets apart the faithful for eternal joy and protection.

As Pastor Kurtis demonstrated in Ephesians 1-2, we know that it is only by YHWH’s mercy and grace that He sets us apart for salvation. That doesn’t mean that we are safe from disease, from losing our jobs, from conflict and persecution for righteousness sake (our definition of safety). But it does mean that YHWH will keep His promise of safety, that is eternal perseverance of our faith until we see Him face to face, for those whom He sets apart.

As one poet puts it:

He's sovereign, there's no question and that’s got some people stressin'

But no option but election can account for our protection

-Shai Linne, “Election,” Attributes of God

Because we know, we know, that God sets us apart for protection, we can make the conclusion, the definitive statement, the faith-driven, feet-set-firm confession to our own fearful hearts and to the world, that YHWH hears and answers our prayers.

But what about those who seek their own desires? David talks about them in Psalm 4:2

Psalm 4:2 (NKJV)

How long, O you sons of men,

Will you turn my glory to shame?

How long will you love worthlessness

And seek falsehood?

Selah

His answer for those who worship their own desires comes in Psalm 4:4

Psalm 4:4 (NKJV)

Be angry, and do not sin.

Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.

Selah

These people already know that YHWH has set David apart, they know that YHWH will provide for him and not for their selfish desires. So David commands them to “be angry, and do not sin.” We must understand the driving force of this command in order to truly understand verse 8.

David commands the wicked to “be angry and not to sin in that anger,” and then he adds the phrase “meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.” It could be said like this, “Tremble and seethe in your fear and anger but you cannot not sin in that wickedness. Look at your heart and ponder, meditate on, and lament your wickedness internally upon your bed, but you must be silent!”

I oftentimes will eat lunch with the Shawhans during the week. When I am at their house, one thing that I love about their parenting is how they deal with temper tantrums. The phrase that they use is “Go put” or “Go throw your fit on your bed.” They have a designated place for their children's tantrums. We cannot throw a fit in the kitchen, we cannot throw a fit in the dining room, we cannot throw a fit in the living room, we can, however, go put it on our beds.

Here David looks at the wicked, the ones doing shameful and idolatrous things, the ones who are now seething with anger that YHWH will not give them their version of safety, and he tells them, “Go put you tantrums on your bed.” He tells them that they get to put it there and contemplate their sin when they process their day and their life. In their beds they cannot harm others. The effect of their sin reaches only as far as their pillow. And when they enrage themselves and are tempted to scream out in anger and frustration over their own sin and YHWH’s protection of His chosen people, David tells them to keep silent and lament their wickedness.

There are so many who claim Christ, but they go after their own desires and want to keep them safe, and they will sin to do it. How many of us would spiral into depression the moment we receive that termination notice? How many of us would give into breath-stealing anxiety when we get that diagnosis? Who here would hang up the phone or slam the door on that family member because we aren’t getting the peaceful relationship we think that we deserve? David says you are the subject of this command. He would tell you to put your tantrum on your bed. At least there, the effect of your sin only reaches as far as your pillow.

How do we keep ourselves from this place? How do we stay away from throwing our tantrums on our beds? How do we remember the safety that God has already given us in Christ?

The answer is found in Psalm 4:5

Psalm 4:5 (NKJV)

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And put your trust in the Lord.

There is a major difference between the wicked of David’s day and those who seek their own safety today. That difference was made at the cross. In verse 5, David recognizes that YHWH commanded a sacrifice in faith, in other words, correct worship, as a demonstration of trust in YHWH’s provision. David is telling the wicked to stew in their anger overnight so that it might push them toward repentance in the morning, when the temple opened up again. Today, oh glorious day, Christian, we have a much better sacrifice! Hebrews 10:10 tells us “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Because of what Christ has done, as a Great High Priest who sympathizes with us, and as a final sacrifice for our sins, we can deal with our anger and fear, and trust in YHWH today! There is the contrast between Psalm 4:4 and 4:8. Those who try to protect their own sinful desires must throw their tantrums on their beds, but we can lay our peace on our pillows because we trust that YHWH is sovereignly keeping us safe.

Are you trusting that you are set apart for YHWH’s purposes? Are you trusting in and worshipping the one and only God in your heart?

...

“I am,” you say, “but I can’t seem to get a break. Life just keeps hitting me. I can’t get a grip, I can’t get control of it all.” Friend, let me tell you, you can’t control it all. You are not sovereign over your life. David was in the midst of injustice and wicked idolatry and yet, he found the ability to trust in YHWH’s protection. He didn’t have to seethe in anger at God’s Law and keep silent. Neither should you. You don’t have to go to bed in sin and anger. Trust God’s timing and protection.

But what if you can’t do that? What if you still have anger at your position in life and anxiety about when the other shoe will finally drop or where you will come up with the mortgage or car payment, or how you will be able to provide a vacation for your family this year? David would tell you that you are thinking no better than the idol worshipper who asks if God is even there to provide.

Our last point is this...

III. We Dwell in Safety Because God’s Provision of Gladness and Joy is Better.

Psalm 6:6-7

6 There are many who say,

“Who will show us any good?”

Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.

7 You have put gladness in my heart,

more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

While the Christian should go straight to YHWH in his distress, the wicked will continue to ask Psalm 4:6 “Who will show us any good? Who will provide good things for us?” If I could make this clearer, “Who will give me what I define as beneficial for my life? Obviously it can’t be God!” The people of David’s day were looking for crops and livestock with their idols. Today, we live as practical atheists, working for our own gain, trusting in ourselves to protect our desires. We’ve mentioned many scenarios tonight, but here is a more pointed question: What are you desiring right now more than the salvation brought to you in Christ? What part of your life are you practically an atheist in? For me, it’s usually more rest, better relationships, to already know the stuff I “have” to learn in seminary. What is it for you?

What we need to do instead of questioning YHWH’s provision is what David does at the end of verse 6: “Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.”

David looks to YHWH and seeks His face, His favor. While we understand that for them to look at YHWH meant death, they understood that for YHWH to look at them meant life. It meant His favor and power working on their behalf. Oh, brothers and sisters, we have access to so much greater than they! Paul reassures us in 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

2 Corinthians 4:5–6 (NKJV)

5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the glory of God! “He who has seen me has seen the Father!” “I and my Father are one!” “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God!” “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature!” (John 14:9, John 10:30, John 1:1, Heb. 1:3) Don’t you see, my friends? Not only do we, as the people YHWH set apart for Himself, have YHWH’s countenance lifted upon us, but by faith in Christ Jesus, we have seen the face of God! David was asking for the closest thing he could get to this!

How do we forget that what we need more than anything in life is to be in the presence of our Savior? To grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior? How do we go day-by-day simply getting by in a state of depression, anger, or anxiety because we aren’t getting what we think is safe instead of being satisfied in who Christ is, the radiance of YHWH’s glory!? David begged for this in prayer, we already possess it.

We lastly see in verse 7 that David summarizes where his safety comes from in the midst of his sorrow. When he is in distress, he tells YHWH:

7 You have put gladness in my heart,

more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

This is a rich doxology. Because we can pray to YHWH, YHWH chose us, we can trust in Him, we have a Final Sacrifice and a Great High Priest, and we have the face of YHWH upon us in Christ...

We have gladness! This is “joy unspeakable and full of glory!” In other words, we have full satisfaction in YHWH. Not in the benefits of Him on this earth, not in the relief that we get, but satisfaction in YHWH Himself. Satisfaction in the eternal life we will spend with Him due to Christ’s sacrifice! And David ups the ante a bit, he clarifies his position for us. He even pokes at those who find their satisfaction outside of YHWH. David’s answer is this, “They refuse to worship You, Almighty God of righteousness, well, I will worship You. And YHWH, You have put so much gladness, so much joy, in my heart, that it is enough to sustain me, enough to keep me going. This gladness and joy is way greater than what the wicked want. When I get what I want, it’s You, Lord. When the wicked and the oppressor get what they want, they get a full belly.” Brothers and sisters, we must see that not only does YHWH provide, and His reward is joy in Himself, but also the folly of seeking safety elsewhere is its own self-centered, temporary reward.

Christian, are you are relying on temporary situations and solutions to satisfy your soul? Are you finding joy outside of Christ? Instead, find joy and gladness in what YHWH has provided for us already, because YHWH’s Provision, His eternal preservation of His elect, Brings Gladness and Joy that is so much greater!

Go home tonight, go lie down, my brother, my sister, in peace, and sleep. For God alone makes us dwell in safety. Let’s pray.”

In Peace, I Lie Down And Sleep