How Easy Is Your Sleep?

Psalm 4:1-8

¶ Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time [that] their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

We will be looking at verse 8 in this study. David makes a remarkable statement. It would behoove us to understand how a man with as great and numerous problems can say I’ll lay men down in peace and sleep. The key is when he says the Lord makes him to dwell in safety. We could mention the issues of the day, the corona virus or the civil unrest that is roiling the country, but in reality there has never been safety in this world since Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden. When sin entered into the world, death entered by it. The only safety is to be found in God. Let’s look at a few points that arise in this one verse. Consider:

I. Our SERENITY – True peace is a rare thing. Most people have fears and uncertainties that they have no defense against. We like to think that we are in control, but so much can happen with sudden and unexpected consequences. We make our plans with such confidence, not realizing or understanding how little we actually control. Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. True peace only comes from knowing Jesus as Saviour and knowing His love and care by experience. Our serenity, our peace comes as a gift from God because He gives us:

A. FREEDOM from

1. Fear – Think of those great heroes of the faith, such as Moses, John the Baptist and Stephen who in the face of death stood firm in their faith. Peter thinking that he would certainly be put to death was able to lay down and sleep. How were these men, and many others, able to put aside their fears and apprehensions? 1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. While the world is a dangerous place with many and varied perils all around us, we can rest upon the promises of God. Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thebeliever can rest in the knowledge that he is in God’s hands and nothing can touch him that the Lord doesn’t permit.

2. Fret – I can testify from my own experience that it is all too easy to allow the cares of this life to overwhelm our minds with care. Worry is not to be a part of the life of the believer Our language is not always adequate to express the thoughts we want to convey. Some times we may say that we are ‘worried’ about a person or a thing, when we want to say that we are concerned or that we care. When I say fret, I’m talking about a nagging persistent doubt. Doubt about God’s care for us or His ability to protect and provide for us. It would be impossible not to think about an impending event that will be unpleasant or hurtful, but if we trust God that concern will take second place to our desire to trust, serve, obey and honor God.

3. Future – 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. We can lay down and sleep in peace because we can, as Paul, say I know whom I have believed. My pastor of many years, Brother Ken Jacques said many times “I do not fear death, dying may be painful, but death holds no fear for I will be with my Lord.” The future of the Christian is secure!

B. FOUNDATION for life

1. In the Storms of life – we all suffer the unexpected events in life; sickness, loss of loved ones and other trials. These are common to all men. The difference is in how we react to them. Some are destroyed by the difficulties that we face. Some are embittered and hardened by them. But the faithful Christian can be resilient in the storms of life because he has a foundation of the Rock of the Lord Jesus. Matthew 7:24-25 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Because of the certainty of God’s promises the Christian can look past the present conditions to the glorious future that awaits us. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. To be a martyr is not an easy thing, but neither is living for God. Living for God calls for a daily sacrifice, a sacrifice that continues day after day. It is something that the world, the Devil and one’s own flesh oppose on a constant basis. To present your body a living sacrifice demands a commitment that is firmly based in the sure and certain faith in God and His Word. If we have that foundation of faith we can endure and even thrive spiritually in times of trial and trouble.

2. In the Springtime of life – When we are living the ‘mountain top’ experiences, that is to say the times when we are not tried by some sorrow or overt opposition from the outside, it’s easy to begin to think that we no longer need to rely on God. Those who have true spiritual sight can see that we always depend on God, it matters not if we are passing good times or bad, even our very breath depends on God’s grace. A good thing to remember is that heroes arise in times of danger and desperation. If our lives were always pleasant and easy we would be robbed of an opportunity to serve our Lord. I remember Dr. James Crumpton saying “that all the greatest blessings of my life came disguised as trial, testing and heartache.” Our problem is that we are ‘near sighted’. We can’t see the end from the beginning as God can. We must trust and rely on Him.

II. Our SALVATION

A. SAFETY from

1. Sin – Romans 6:6-7 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. As has often been said “Jesus’ life, death and resurrection save the Christian from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin in this world and from even the presence of sin when we are with him in Heaven.

2. Old Self – the old man

B. SANCTUARY – a home in Heaven – 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. It is beyond the ability of our minds and beyond the scope of human language to imagine or describe what Heaven is like. The most important feature of Heaven is Jesus is there. I’ve heard many songs and sermons about what one will do upon arrival in Heaven. I really believe that the wondrous sight of our Saviour will drive all other thoughts from our minds. I will no longer wonder about the flood or any other thing. My attention, love, worship and devotion will all be directed toward my Lord and Saviour.

C. SERVICE – our purpose will be complete. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. So many people are searching for a purpose in life. I remember when people would say “I don’t know who I am.” What they were really saying is “I don’t know what the purpose of my life is.” This is the motive for so much of the self-destructive behavior we see in the present day. There is a emptiness inside of them that can only be filled with God. We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, it’s the only way to be complete and to “know who we are.” Ephesians 5:15-18 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; It is foolish to spend one’s life in pursuit of that which must be left behind at the end. Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: How will you spend your life and what will be the result?