Scripture:Psalm 4:8
Author: David, 440-400 B.C.
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
This is a Psalm that is sung in its entirety before bed and is a powerful practice for anyone. It follows Psalm 3 which is a prayer to start the day, a day expected to be challenging and no doubt it was for David, the presumed author of Psalm 4:8.
Poets and song writers often did their best work during strife.
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[b]?[c]
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 Tremble and[d] 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
In context, David at the time is surrounded by troubles from enemies and internal rebellion from his own people— he was dethroned so it is said. This psalm goes back and forth between distress and faith. Men dishonoring, the faithful losing sight, anger held back, worship restored, and then, “I will sleep, for I know you will take my burden”.
The prevailing wisdom is this Psalm was written during a dark time for David. Likely during Absolom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15)
His own son staged a coup.
Advisors defected.
David fled Jerusalem barefoot and weeping.
His future was uncertain.
His kingship seemed to crumble overnight.
Yet Psalm 4 ends not with fear—but sleep. Think of it this way, King David was removed from his throne and still slept like a child because his safety was not wearing his mantle on the throne, but in peace within God’s Grace.
Let’s break it down and see where it takes us:
“In peace”
Not the fragile peace of circumstances, but shalom—wholeness, completeness, inward stillness even if turbulence swirls outside.
This isn’t a “I have no problems.”
It’s peace despite problems.
“I will both lie down and sleep”
In sleep, we believe we are at our most vulnerable and we can’t help but be concerned for the day to come let alone the dangers that may still lurk after the day we just endured.
David is saying:
“I can close my eyes because God has His open.”
“For you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
Exclusive trust in the Lord, but more importantly, I know my burden of the day is in your hands. I know I will rest so I can do God’s work tomorrow.
Psalm 4:8 is a reminder to put the phone away. Stop scrollling through the memories of the day behind you. Rest now— be renewed so you may be “prayed up” for what is to come tomorrow.
I put these lyrics to music. You can listen here: ✨ Psalm 4:8 ✨
Yesterday I mentioned my wilderness experience in 2025. One of the extreme challenges I had was an utter lack of any sleep for several days. It wasn’t until I laid down all of my fears and prayed on my knees, ending by asking for rest that I found sleep and peace. I was gifted this sleep by my surrender to God and Jesus.
