In Peace I Will Lie Down

Dear Judah, Grace, Joanna, and soon to be born baby Spears,

It has been a while since I wrote to you. As I was reading this morning I was struck by this Psalm because it so describes the world that you will grow up in. It also shows the key to successfully and peacefully thriving in that world. It starts in verse 1 with a cry to God for relief. David sees the corruption in the world around him and is greatly troubled by it. He knows that only God can solve this.

After this cry for help, David turns his attention to the people around him. He sees their corruption. He sees how they take the very shameful things of life and glory in them. They have convinced themselves that lies are truth, and that truth are lies. He admonishes them, noting that God does indeed listen to his children. He continues that they should tremble before God and not sin. He urges them to examine their own hearts for sin. The lastly, and most importantly, he notes that their ‘sacrifice’ should be to trust God.

Our hearts are so evil that they will always try to justify ourselves by something in us or something we do. Yet, we can never be justified before God in ourselves. The sacrifice of trusting God, is simply a call to repent and trust that God will justify us through Christ. It is a call to let go of our own ‘righteousness’ which really is no righteousness and to embrace the righteousness of Christ.

David then turns his attention back to God in verse 6. He notes that people are asking who will bring us prosperity? Will political leaders, will certain important cultural figures? Will anything we do bring us prosperity? The answer is apart from God, no.

The answer is that only God can bring us prosperity. David calls on God to let the light of His face shine on us. He asks God to give us His favor. This doesn’t necessarily mean financial prosperity. It means peace. It means life as it should be, as God designed it to be. It means contentment and security.

Note at the end in verse 8, David lies down in peace and sleeps because he knows that God is in control of everything and that God loves him. He can truly rest in his innermost being because he knows that anything that happens comes through God’s loving hand.

So when this world seems out of control. When evil men do things that you can’t even believe, remember that God really is in control. Remember that He loves you and that nothing can truly harm you. You can lie down and sleep in peace.

Love and Blessings,

Grandpa

¹ Answer me when I call to you,
    my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
    have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

² How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
³ Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴ Tremble and do not sin;
    when you are on your beds,
    search your hearts and be silent.
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.

⁶ Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.
⁷ Fill my heart with joy
    when their grain and new wine abound.

⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.

Ps 4