Psalm 4 is an evening prayer that sets us up for a good night’s sleep with these closing words.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:8

But that’s not how the psalm begins at all.  The opening words are a cry of personal lament.

Answer me when I call to you,
    O righteous God.
Free me from my troubles.
    Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1

The poet is in trouble, and his distress is compounded by personal attacks on his character, questioning his integrity and smearing his reputation. 

How long will you people ruin my reputation?
    How long will you make groundless accusations?
    How long will you continue your lies?  Psalm 4:2

This is social bullying long before the Age of Facebook – and it stings.  And did you notice the repeated question?  “How long?”

On top of the bullying is the fact that there is no end in sight. We can endure almost anything if we know when it will end, but when there’s no end in sight, it is very unsettling.  And that’s the reality we’re all facing in this global pandemic – and that uncertainty can sure disturb your sleep.

But the poet does the right thing – instead of fretting over his troubles or lashing out at the people who are slandering him, he brings his pain to God convinced that God cares about his woes.

Then he turns from the fog of uncertainty to something that he knows for sure. V. 3 says,

v.3  You can be sure of this:
    The Lord set apart the godly for himself.
    The Lord will answer when I call to him. Psalm 4:3

Instead of focusing on how others have snubbed and insulted him, he reminds himself that God cares about him, that God will answer, and that God is actively pursuing a relationship with him.

A few years ago someone gave me a four-word phrase “I belong to God,” which is a simple but amazing truth about God. I would repeat that phrase ‘I belong to God’ slowly several times. I was astonished at the fresh insights it gave me about God and my relationship with him. I learned to fall asleep at night repeating the phrase   It was a life-changer for me – and I encourage you to practice it. 

Later, the poet also reflects on another question that is on everyone’s mind these days, the question of financial security. 

Everybody is asking, who can ensure our prosperity? Psalm 4:6

Does anybody have an answer for these financial troubled times?  Talk about relevant questions – and again look at how our poet responds – not with hand-wringing or with an investment strategy for market uncertainty. Instead he responds with a relational prayer. 

“Let your face smile on us, Lord”. Psalm 4:6

That could be seen as a complete cop-out, but let me suggest that instead of focusing on what he DOESN’T have, which seems to be the focus of everybody’s question, he chooses to focus instead on what he DOES have, namely a God who has a Father’s face, a God whose smile is seen in a thousand gifts, some material and other gifts even more precious.  The more you dwell on what you DO have, the more over-whelmed you will be by joy, gratitude, appreciation and a sense of privilege.

“God, when you smile on me I have more joy in my heart than any guarantee of a paycheck.  Your gift of Joy in my heart is a huge gift.”

There’s a lot more in this psalm including 6 imperatives, like doctor’s orders, in the middle of the psalm, which I encourage you to reflect on, but for now I leave you with this advice from Psalm 4

Go to bed intentionally placing yourself in God’s care knowing that you are secure in his power, his generosity and his love. 

Fall asleep counting your blessings, your stress level will subside; your heart rate will relax, and you will sleep with a deeper peace and joy than if you wrestle all night trying to solve tomorrows problems.