Psalm 4:8 - Sleeping in Peace.

Psalm 4:8 - Sleeping in Peace.

Psalm 4:8 (NLT)  I will lie down in peace and sleep,  for you 
alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. 

Psalm 4:8 (CWR)  At night I will sleep in peace because the Lord 
watches over me and keeps me safe. 

IN PEACE. Without anxiety. [NIV SB]

David wrote this psalm as he was about to retire for the night 
(v. 8). He could not do much about the war around him, but he could 
do something about the war within him. He did not want to lie in 
bed and worry, so he committed himself and his situation to the 
Lord. 
He asked (1-3). Asking the Lord for help is still a good way to 
deal with inner turmoil (Phil. 4:6-7). 
He believed (4-5). He faced his anger honestly and gave it to 
the Lord (Eph. 4:26). Instead of lying in bed and thinking about 
your problems, meditate on the Lord and offer Him sacrifices of 
praise. 
He received (6-8). In the darkness, he saw the face of God and 
received light. In his sorrow, he discovered the gift of gladness. In the 
time of battle, he received peace. God did not immediately change the 
situation, but He did change David; He can do the same for you. [Chapter by 
Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Psa. 4] 

Since the psalmist's mind is at peace, he can lie down and sleep 
calmly. Confidence in God gives assurance of sleep. The two go hand in 
hand..... The psalmist expresses his realization that to God alone he is 
indebted for his safety through the night. What confidence: to know that 
he will be kept safely, and to recognize that he owes this 
safekeeping entirely to his God. The Christian who shares the confidence of 
the psalmist need have no fear during either the slumbers of the 
night or the duties of the day. [SDA Bible Commentary] 

The defeatist looks at surrounding troubles, and despairs. 
David, however, looked up and found a source of joy in the knowledge 
that God's face was turned toward him. The image of God's face 
"shining on" a person means to look with favor; to look with the intent 
to do good. 
So David found his good and his joy in God, not in an earthly 
abundance of "grain and new wine." 
How much wiser David's course of seeking peace and joy in the 
Lord. Our fortunes on earth can change radically, as David's flight 
from Jerusalem shows. But God is unchanging. If we find our joy in 
the Lord, that joy will be with us always.  [The 365-Day Devotional 
Commentary] 

When we lay our heads on the pillow at night, the only security 
we have is God's presence. For all of our security systems, yearly 
physicals, savings accounts, and pension plans, the only real peace we can 
find comes from knowing that we will never face life alone. God will 
always be there with us.  
The psalmist, David, understood this. As a soldier he carried 
swords. As a general he had an army. As a king he had guards. But what 
he knew in his heart was that only God's presence was a true source 
of peace.  
 What about you? Have you begun to experience this peace 
promised by God? Becoming a believer didn't erase all your problems or 
change the world to a rosy shade of pink, but becoming a believer does 
put you in the lap of One who will protect you, watch over you, help 
you through the problems, and make you a better person because of 
them. You can rest in peace knowing that you will never be alone 
again. God is watching over you. [The One Year Bible for New Believers 
re Psalm 4:8] 

Let every part of your body be controlled by God's wisdom (Rom. 
12:1-2). Sleep is one of the tests of faith and true surrender to God 
(Ps. 4). [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re 
Pro. 3:24]