Psalm 4 - Truth in Slumber

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

During the day things are different than in the still of the night. During the day you can busy your hands, busy your mind, and occupy them both with thoughts that detour you to where you would rather mentally reside. But at night, in the secret realm of your dreams, you no longer call the shots. The thoughts of your day resurface without invitation and the problems of life seemingly take on newfound identities as dreams made manifest. And within this cycle, peaceful sleep can be stolen from the very one that so desperately desires it. When fear, turmoil, and inner conflict resound and the R.E.M. cycle is interrupted, life can feel it is coming to a grinding halt. Yes, it is true, as a life wrestles with the mind, the soul is afforded no true rest. For only in perfect peace can perfect slumber be found. And it is in this sweet spot that we meet David in Psalm 4. Even though he writes most of his psalms on the run from evil, he boldly proclaims a truth to the Lord that he has been personally exposed to…true peace in the Lord allows peaceful slumber from the Lord. The Lord is indeed a soft pillow to a heavy heart.

Of the first 4 Psalms only two are officially accredited to David. And in both of those he mentions sleep. Of the countless Godly needs, praises, and blessings David could have mentioned, why sleep? Well, imagine yourself walking in king David’s sandals for a moment. He spent around 13 long years of his then young life on the run from crazy ol’ bi-polar Saul who sought to openly harpoon David. David was then, yet again, on the run and in hiding for around 4 years from his own son, Absalom, who sought to kill him and take the throne of Israel for himself. This brings me to think of a good spy movie where our hero is on the run from the bad guys that lie lurking in every dark shadow and creepy corner ready to do him great harm. Our said hero lives in a perpetual state of fear, paranoia, and readiness. Even at night, no sleep will come to the heart that lies in great fear of what damage awaits its future. Yet king David, living a life of hopping from cave to cave, sneaking from hiding place to hiding place, knowing that at any minute his enemy could end his life, was able to take refuge in the Lord, lay his head down, and peacefully drift into a soul reviving sleep.

Today, how is your sleep? Are there unresolved issues that are robbing you of God's promised peaceful slumber? Satan is beyond crafty and can and will use every single thread of doubt, fear, and sinful self-desire to delve deep into the solitude of your rest. King David had found the solution to clearing out the mental cache that can revisit us so easily at night. King David was constantly in touch with the Lord during the day. He was constantly pouring out his fears and concerns upon the only One that could cleanse and counsel him in them. And it is in this process that David was granted peace. Peace in knowing that nothing on this Earth could separate him from the love of his Creator. A sharp sword could end his life, but it would only begin his eternity with God. A swift unseen arrow could, in a second, pierce his body, but it could not pierce the great faith he had in a God that loved him eternally. You see, David was not afraid of this life, but instead embraced his guarantee of Heaven. David’s feet walked this earth, but his soul walked in Heaven.

I pray today that you are living in a thriving, abundant relationship with your Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray that you are engaged in a deep personal daily study of His Word, for in it lies the constant encouragement to deal with the fears and issues of this world. I pray that you are lost in daily constant prayer to the Lord, giving Him your fears and concerns the minute they surface. For living in constant prayer with the Father, lies the peace of giving your worries away to the only One that can properly shoulder them. A life lived in these principles will be a life that can empty itself of sin, worry, doubt, and fear. And a life lived in the absence of those, is a life that can be lived in the presence of the peace of Christ...and slumber well.

Sleep well in the Lord.

Blessings ~ Dan

“My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Proverbs 3:21-24

belleza en la naturaleza (beauty in the wild), Atlixco, Mexico