Psalm 4 - In Peace I Lie Down

Music is a very powerful thing and it has the ability to connect with us in a deep way. We know from the titles that many of the psalms were written originally not just to be read but to be sung. Psalm 4 (the second of David’s Psalms) was written to be played ‘with stringed instruments’.

As I read through Psalm 4 I imagine a group of people strumming as they sing these faith building words to one another. David is in distress as this Psalm opens. Reading through the Psalms we learn that believing people are not spared distress, but they are free from not knowing what to do with it. David brings his distress to a God who he believes will give him relief (vs 1).

All around him David is surrounded by unbelief. This wearies him and yet he boldly declares that God hears him as he calls to Him. Looking at an unbelieving world David pleads with it to humble itself before God, to be done with boastful words, and to place trust in God and in Him alone.

In vs 7 David prays ‘Fill my heart with joy’. Even though David is asking for this the construction of the final part of the Psalm pictures David going to sleep, confident that this joy will come. So the promise of joy (yet to come) becomes in itself a present blessing. David’s trust in God is so complete that he can know peace, even in the midst of distress.

Journeying through this Psalm David arrives at a place of safety and security. He’s not in his bed yet, but he knows that when he lies down (vs 8) that word ‘safety’ will be the last, and most precious, word upon his lips.

Pause for thought: Imagine a group of people striking up a tune and singing the words of this psalm. How do you think their faith has been built up as they come to the end of the song?