Psalm 4:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

NIV: In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

NASB: In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, Lord, have me dwell in safety.

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

NLT: In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

KJV: I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

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

Despite the ever-present threats against his life (Psalm 3:1; 2 Samuel 15:13–14), David enjoyed such a close relationship with God that he was able to get a good night's rest. He trusted the Lord to keep him safe. Instead of tossing and turning at night, he tossed his burdens onto the Lord's shoulders and turned his troubles over to Him. First Peter 5:7 talks about "casting all your anxieties on [God], because he cares for you." Philippians 4:6 admonishes us "do not be anxious about anything" and to instead pray with thanksgiving, making our requests known to God. The following verse promises, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

Acts 12 includes the account of the arrest of the apostle Peter. King Herod fully expected to kill him the morning following the arrest. However, instead of worrying all night, Peter slept soundly while chained to two guards with sentries posted at his cell's door. His commitment to the Lord's will was so strong that he enjoyed such a deep sleep that an angel that was sent to rescue him had to strike him on the side to wake him up. Undoubtedly, a strong trust in the Lord exerts a powerful impact on the ability to sleep soundly.

Psalm 4:6–8 discloses David's joy and peace despite being surrounded by enemies. Other psalms include references to God's face shining in favor (Psalm 31:16; 44:3; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 119:135). Romans 14:17 and Galatians 5:22 speak of joy and peace as the possessions of those in whom the Holy Spirit lives and reigns. The letter to the Philippians, a prison epistle, overflows with the apostle Paul's joy and peace, though he was shackled by Roman soldiers. David's testimony in Psalm 4:7–8 supports the fact that joy and peace do not depend on favorable circumstances but on one's trust in the Lord.

Psalm 4 begins with David's prayer in which he asks God for grace. Then he addresses men, likely his current enemies, urging them to shun lies and stop rebelling against God. David encourages his own followers to avoid sin. Instead, they are to search their hearts, offer sacrifices to the Lord, and trust in the Lord. Despite all the enmity Absalom and his men were hurling against David, David's heart is full of more joy than farmers experience when they have an abundant harvest. The psalm closes with David testifying to peaceful sleep that the Lord gives him by causing him to dwell safely.

Psalm 4 shares themes with Psalm 3. Psalm 3 refers to David's rising up in the morning, whereas Psalm 4 refers to his nighttime sleep. It seems both Psalm 3 and Psalm 4 were written after David and his followers had left Jerusalem and crossed the Jordan River. At the time, Absalom, David's son had usurped the throne (2 Samuel 15—18). Despite horrific circumstances, David exercised trust in the Lord, bringing him joy and peace. Psalm 5 also focuses on David's prayer when his enemies tried to destroy him. When Jesus' disciples were greatly troubled, He told them not to let their hearts be troubled but instead trust in His Father and in Him (John 14:1). He gave them His supernatural peace (John 14:27). Psalm 17, like Psalm 4, features David's urgent prayer for deliverance from his enemies.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.