in communion with God.
that you may yet praise him. If you feel uncertain about your standing, do as Paul's sailors did—cast anchor and wait for the day.
Trembling Christian, who is tossed by tempests and without comfort, try to lay yourself down in peace and sleep. Calm yourself into a peaceful and steady frame. In the name of him whom the winds and seas obey, command your troubled thoughts to be still and say, "Peace, be still." Rest your aching, trembling head where the beloved disciple laid his—on the bosom of the Lord Jesus. Or, if you do not yet feel bold enough to draw so near, lay your trembling head at his feet, surrendering yourself entirely to him. Say, "If I perish, I will perish here." Place yourself in his hands with total confidence in his love and care. Submit to his work and will, trusting him to speak peace to your heart.
If you have not yet entered the promised rest—the sabbatism—that remains for the people of God, view it as a land of promise. Though it may tarry, wait for it. "For the vision is yet for an appointed time… though it tarry, wait for it." Hebrews 4:9: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." Habakkuk 2:3: "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." Light is sown for the righteous, and what is sown shall come up in a harvest of joy.
3. The Psalmist's example: ending the day in communion with God.
Having finished the day's work, perhaps worn out by it, David retires to rest. After offering good advice to others—to commune with their hearts on their beds and offer the sacrifices of righteousness—he
himself concludes the day with these words: "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep." Psalm 4:8 : "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."
This passage should be understood literally, just as the disciples interpreted their Master when he said, "Lazarus sleepeth," referring to rest in sleep. John 11:12-13: "Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep." Here, we see David's pious reflection as he prepares for bed. Just as he awakens with thoughts of God, so he ends his day in sweet communion with him.
It seems David penned this Psalm during a time of distress and persecution by his enemies—perhaps on the same occasion as the previous Psalm, when he fled from Absalom, his son. Externally, there were battles, and internally, no wonder there were fears. Yet even in such circumstances, he places such confidence in God's protection that he goes to bed at his usual time, with his usual peace and cheerfulness, composing himself as on any other occasion. He knows his enemies have no power over him except what is given to them from above, and that even this power is under God's check and restraint. Their power will not be allowed to go so far as to cause him any real harm. Therefore, David retreats into the secret place of the Most High, abides under the shadow of the Almighty, and remains calm in his own heart. What breaks a worldly person's heart will not break a godly person's sleep. "Let them do their worst," says David, "I will lay me down and sleep; the will of the Lord be done."
Now observe here:
a. David's confidence in God
"Thou, Lord, makest me to dwell in safety." Not only does God make him safe, but God also assures him of this safety, giving him peace and confidence. The phrase conveys a sense of walking securely, as in Proverbs 10:9: "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely." Just as the upright man walks boldly, so David goes boldly to his bed.
Unlike the men of Laish, who lived carelessly (Judges 18:7, David dwells securely in God, like the sons of Zion in their solemn city. As described in Isaiah 33:20: "Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation."
One word in the text is particularly noteworthy: "Thou, Lord, only dost secure me."
Some interpret this to mean David finds security even when he is alone. When he has no advisers to counsel him or guards to protect him, he is still unafraid, knowing God is with him. The Son of David, Jesus, found comfort in a similar truth. When all his disciples forsook him, leaving him alone, he said, "Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me." (John 16:32).
Many people, especially those who are weak, feel afraid when alone, particularly in the dark. But a firm belief in God's presence in all places, and in his divine protection of the righteous, would quiet such fears and even make us ashamed of them.
Moreover, being alone in the sense of being "set apart" for God's purposes can itself be a source of security. As mentioned earlier in verse 8, being a people whom God has set apart for himself offers unique protection. A sober distinctiveness becomes a source of safety and satisfaction—just as Noah's righteousness was in a corrupt world. Israel is described as a people dwelling alone, not counted among the nations (Numbers 23:9), and it is said, "Israel then shall
dwell in safety alone" (Deuteronomy 33:28). The more we live in spiritual separation from the world, the more securely we dwell.
Our translation, however, attributes this directly to God: "Thou alone makest me to dwell safely." It is God alone who secures us. While God sometimes uses instruments to protect his people, he does not depend on them. "The earth helped the woman," but God can work without such help. When all other supports fail, God's own arm brings salvation. Deuteronomy 32:12: "So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him."
This is not all. David depends entirely on God for his security. He is at ease, not because of any earthly hosts or armies, but purely because he has the Lord of Hosts on his side.
b. Trusting God for both past and future
safety
"Thou makest me to dwell in safety." This statement can be understood to look backward, forward, or both.
Looking backward: David acknowledges God's protection during the day, expressing thankfulness for the mercies he has received. He recognises that "the sun has not smitten me by day" and gives thanks for God's care. Looking forward: David trusts God to protect him through the night, confident that "the moon shall not smite me by night." Here, he expresses his dependence on God for further mercies.
These two attitudes—gratitude for past deliverance and trust for future care—should always go together. Our eyes must be fixed on