#DailyDevotion Sleep In Peace & Live Without Fear

Psalm 4 ⁵Bring the proper sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the LORD. ⁶Many are saying, “If only someone could show us prosperity!” Let the light of Your face shine on us, O LORD. ⁷You put more joy in my heart than a season with plenty of new grain and wine. ⁸I can lie down and sleep in peace, because You alone, O LORD, enable me to live without fear.

 David could be admonishing his detractors who have sided with Absalom here. If they have rebelled against the LORD’s anointed one then they are most certainly not offering up proper sacrifices in a right spirit. This also could be related with Jesus speaking such things to the Pharisees and Sadducees who opposed him and his kingdom. If they did these things then they would not be opposing the LORD’s anointed. Now today, perhaps since temple sacrifices are not needed we may look to Psalm 51, “¹⁷The sacrifice which God wants is a broken spirit. A broken and crushed heart, O God, You won’t despise.” 1 Peter 1, speaks of our spiritual sacrifice, “ to tell of the wonderful deeds of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Jesus tells us, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” The right spirit, besides being humble before the LORD our God, is to trust the LORD Jesus Christ. Having faith in Jesus puts one’s heart right with the Father. When we trust in him not only for the forgiveness of sins but for every aspect of our lives then we can offer to God proper sacrifices in a right spirit. Without faith in Christ Jesus it is impossible to please God.

Now verse six David seems to be speaking to his men who have followed him out of Jerusalem after Absalom’s rebellion. They are bereft of resources they would have at the capital and in the palace. Many may fear helping them because of Absalom. David calls out the blessing of the LORD’s name from priestly blessing of Numbers 6, “²⁴The LORD bless you and keep you! ²⁵The LORD let His face shine on you and be gracious to you! ²⁶The LORD look kindly at you and give you peace!” In the midst of distress David calls upon the LORD to remember his blessing and to shine his face upon him and his men. When Jesus ascends into heaven, he knows his disciples and us would fear what the world would do to us. He blesses them with his name. He promises them and us he will be with us always even to the end of the age. When we are troubled at heart we need to remember the blessings of our God. Jesus told of the blessings of God upon his people in Matt. 5 so we would not lose heart when things are bad. He told us these things would happen. Instead of grumbling remember his promise, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”(Heb) Believing the LORD Jesus Christ gives us his blessed presence, shine his face upon us, keeps us and is gracious to us gives us more joy (or at least it should) than a full bank account. With him and his blessings we know we possess all things in his kingdom.

We see why this is an evening psalm as David speaks of lying down and sleeping in peace. The LORD Jesus Christ enables him and us to sleep in peace. Jesus slept in peace the time he was in the grave because he entrusted himself to the Father. We can sleep in peace trusting the LORD is with us. Turn all your troubles to him in prayer before lying down. Remember his promises before closing your eyes. Then you can have peace upon your beds. If you can’t sleep, pray more! Turn to his promises and his blessings and trust them. Only the LORD Jesus can enable you to live without fear.

Merciful God and Father, we pray stir up our hearts to remember all your promises and blessings in Christ Jesus are yes in him, so we may live without fear and sleep in your peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.