Book 1: Accompaniment to Genesis

How much sleep did you get last night?

How often do you have those nights where you can’t sleep because there’s just too much on your mind—something in your life has you so upset or worried that you just can’t get to sleep.

You’re laying there thinking about something that made you mad, or something that broke your heart, or something that you don’t know how you’re gonna get through and no matter how much you want to just go to sleep and stop thinking about it, 1am passes, 2am, 330, 445, you know you gotta get up at 6 to make it to school and you start doing the math backwards. If I fall asleep right now I can get an hour and 15 min of sleep. but sleep never comes until your body gives out and you pass out 20min before you have to be up.

You ain’t gotta tell me, but when was the last time that happened to you? What was the cause? What was on your mind that had you so upset?

Tonight we’re looking at a psalm that was written in one of those situations. I hope you can find yourself in this text. I hope you learn something from it that helps you through those sleepless nights. and I hope the next time you find yourself in one of those nights, you’ll turn to scripture and you’ll pray a similar prayer.

Take out your bible, or open your bible app, and turn to Psalm 4. As we’re turning there let’s get a framework for the literary structure of what we’re about to read, because this isn’t a narrative story.

When was the last time you used a hymnal? It’s formatted weird right. If you don’t know how a hymnal works you’re gonna get frustrated trying to follow along. The music is laid out in a way that it isn’t even in most other music books. It is its own thing and there is some understanding of music that you need to use a hymnal effectively.

The book of Psalms is no different.

Let’s remember what we’re dealing with. This is a song book. and for that reason there are some margin notes on these songs that give some musical classifications. Like this at the top of a Psalm. This is from the top of Psalm 4

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 4

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

This tells us who wrote it, David, what kind of instruments it is meant to be played on. and whether it is for a soloist or a whole choir. sometimes there’s more information about dynamics and octave. but this psalm only tells us that its for the choir and for a string ensemble.

There’s also another musical notation throughout the psalm. It’s the only thing that in your Bible it’s usually not shown as a part of the verse itself, it is justified to the right side of the page instead of the left. It says Selah. essentially it’s just an extended musical rest.

With that little bit of musical knowledge on hand, so we don’t get lost. Let’s dig into the text.

Psalm 4:1 CSB

1 Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

So we know from the heading that this is written by King David. and this introduction tells us that it isn’t just a song meant to be sung to others, it’s a prayer. David is calling upon God, but He does so for a reason.

God has at some point in the past vindicated David and freed him from affliction, and David believes that God can and will do so again. This could have been any number of situations in David’s life, but at some point when everyone David knew and trusted decided that they didn’t believe him about something when David knew he was right. Maybe it was his older brothers, maybe it was his fellow soldiers, his friends, his advisors. We don’t know. But I have a feeling that you have found yourself in a similar situation.

You’re telling the truth and nobody believes you. Somebody else out here telling lies on you and people are believing them. You know you were right about something and everyone else disagrees. Whatever the situation, you feel the need to be vindicated.

That’s David as he is writing this, that’s been me more times than I can count, and that’s been you too and it will be you again.

How does David deal with it. read on with me. Psalm 4:2

Psalm 4:2 CSB

2 How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted? How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie? Selah

So David here stops praying and starts talking in his mind to the people he’s mad at. He’s winning arguments in his head. Which is the easiest place to do it because there people can’t argue back. and I’m the worst about that.

Essentially what David is saying is this...

“How could you possibly think that about me?”

How could you believe that I would do something like that? How could you believe those lies about me? How could you not trust me on this? I thought you cared about me.

Well, David finds an answer to his own problem in the next stanza. Psalm 4:3

Psalm 4:3 CSB

3 Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.

This one is tough. but it’s true. The simple fact is, nobody else has to believe you. Nobody else has to trust you. People can spout whatever lies about you that they want. Even if its somebody who is supposed to love you. I know they’re important to you. I know it hurts.

But what David knew, is that God loves you more than they do, God is more important than they are, and God knows the truth. Nobody needs to set the record straight in His eyes. He knows what happened. He knows what you did or didn’t do. He knows the truth regardless of what everyone else thinks.

One day the record will be set straight and God won’t be caught off guard by the truth. and if He wants you to be vindicated. If He wants your name cleared, and your record expunged then He will make it happen, but the truth is, His opinion is the only one that matters, so if you never get the suspicion and blame wiped away in the eyes of others. That’s fine. Their opinion didn’t matter to begin with.

But you say to me. “It’s not that simple. You don’t understand. I’m pissed. I ain’t gon let nobody lie on me like that.”

“I’m so mad I’m shaking!”

Psalm 4:4 CSB

4 Be angry and do not sin; reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent. Selah

Your bible may have a footnote there, mine does. Where it says “Be angry” that translation doesn’t quite do it justice. Remember, David is writing in Hebrew, not english. but what David actual says is “Tremble with rage and do not sin.”

It is ok to be so mad that you’re shaking. You can do that and still not sin. Physically shake with anger; and reflect in your heart while laying on your bed, and BE SILENT. Don’t say a word.

and I think theres a meaning that David had in mind but an equally applicable meaning for us today.

David means, Tremble with rage and reflect in your heart as you figure out why you’re reacting that way and once you’ve sorted out why you’re reacting that way, lay there, stop thinking, clear your mind, think about nothing, and get some sleep.

and that’s 1000% still true and applicable today, but I think there’s something more that this verse means for you today.

“...reflect in your heart while laying on your bed, and be silent” for you today, just as much means, put your freaking phone down. Don’t go angry texting or snapchatting at midnight. it’s unhealthy. Sort out what is making you react that way and then go to sleep. Think about nothing. Stop dwelling on it. Clear your mind and go to sleep.

There aint a single good thing happening on that phone after 1030 11oclock. at night. put the thing down.

But if you’re a person who struggles with anger, you don’t think it’s that simple. I can’t just be silent when I get that mad. You don’t understand what it’s like to be that mad. I don’t know how David can just lay down and be silent like that when he’s that mad.

Here’s how. David already answered it. in verse 3. You can reflect a little bit, calm yourself down, and be silent and go to sleep IF you do what verse 3 said. Psalm 4:3

Psalm 4:3 CSB

3 Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.

God is gonna take care of it. There’s nothing you can do but make the situation worse. So let Him handle it.

Be angry and do not sin. Why is that important. So that you can do what verse 5 says. Psalm 4:5

Psalm 4:5 CSB

5 Offer sacrifices in righteousness and trust in the Lord.

And the sacrifices that David is talking about here. The actual word that is used is a communal sacrifice, a feasting sacrifice, everybody coming together and eating. It’s a party.

What does that have to do with what we’re talking about. Well...

Whoever you’re mad at; you’re gonna have to see them again. and it can either be a whole mess of drama that messes up everybody else’s day because you couldn’t control yourself in your anger. See, drama is something that literally by definition requires two or more people. You can’t have drama by yourself. If you have drama by yourself you may be schizophrenic.

Whatever the drama is that you’re a part of, the secret to a good nights sleep, whatever is going on is in trusting the Lord and not trying to handle it yourself.

But you say

“My whole life is falling apart!”

How am I supposed to just not do anything, and clear my mind and go to sleep when everything that’s important to me is crumbling around me?

watch this.

Psalm 4:6 CSB

6 Many are asking, “Who can show us anything good?” Let the light of your face shine on us, Lord.

Everything I love is falling apart. Is there anything good left!?

This is where David shifts his attention back to prayer instead of just internal monologue. “Let the light of your face shine on us, Lord. Psalm 4:7

Psalm 4:7 CSB

7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound.

David reaffirms that the people he is stressing about do not matter. As much as they matter to him. as much as he loves them. as much as they are his friends, family, loved ones. He says “you Lord have put more joy in my heart than anything they have ever done for me.

and so the result of trusting the Lord and letting His opinion be the only one that matters in this situation is what?

Psalm 4:8 CSB

8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.

That’s the secret to a good nights rest.

So what do we do with this tonight.

Maybe you have people telling lies on you or assuming things about you when they don’t know the truth. We’ve all been there. That is the number one thing that will get me madder than anything else. I know what you’re feeling. But...

God knows the truth. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

Maybe you struggle with your anger and you feel like you just can’t let things go like that. Recognize that your anger does not justify anything. It does not matter who did what, said what, disrespected you how; you can get angry. You can be physically shaking with rage, but you are still 100% accountable for your actions. and...

Being angry doesn’t excuse your acting out.

Maybe you have lost the things you felt were most important to you and made you happiest. That’s a good thing, because it opens up an opportunity to get your priorities straightened out; because...

None of the things you’re scared of losing were able to bring you the kind of joy that you need.

the end