Today we are going to learn from David the value of cultivating the daily rhythm of evening prayer (Psalm 4) and morning prayer (Psalms 3&5). These prayers are placed early in the book of Psalms to serve as our guides. We will only have time to meditate on the evening prayer in Psalm 4. Where should our thoughts go before we drift off to sleep?
- EVENING PRAYER – READ PSALM 4
If we compare vrs 1 & 8 of this psalm we will immediately detect that the beginning is “loud” while the ending is “soft”. The first two verses reveal David’s inner anxiety and restlessness. In vrs 6b David turns away from talking to himself and addresses God. In vrs 8 he achieves the goal of evening prayer; I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. The real victory of this psalm is not just sleep – but peaceful sleep. A troubled soul will lead to fitful sleep, and the body won’t fully get what it needs. Regular evening prayer is important, therefore, for both our physical and spiritual health. But how does David get from the distress of vrs 1 to the peace of vrs 8? In vrs 2-7 three groups of people surrounding David are addressed. They are arranged in three couplets. For instance in vrs 2 one group of people are addressed and then in vrs 3 they are given some kind of critique. The same goes for vrs 4, 5 and vrs 6, 7. We must not think that he is speaking to actual individuals. Rather he is speaking to himself, and addressing the sin in his own life. If we learn from David we can counsel our own souls before we go to sleep.
a) The Idolatrous – Vrs 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? When we find ourselves crushed and overly burdened we may well have been guilty of making some things into “false gods.” For example, we may be far too worried and despondent about criticism or rejection because we have made our reputation into an idol. Or we may be unduly crushed by financial setbacks partly because our status (the ability to live in a posh neighbourhood) is so crucial to our self-image. In vrs 3 David counters the idolatry of his soul. When David says; know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; he means that God’s choice of a man is not for office but fellowship (for himself). Then David says the LORD will hear when I call to him. It is only the Lord that gives us hope and security. We can’t find it in our financial status, reputation or anything else. David is saying, “Remember, heart! If I have the fellowship and love of God, and if I am protected by the wise power of God, I have everything I really need.” As we lie on our beds it is helpful to ask ourselves where our heart idols really are.
b) The Angry – In vrs 4, 5 as David lies on his bed he reviews the day that has just gone. Perhaps there was a hurtful interaction with a work colleague or an insensitive remark from a friend. As you lie on your bed it is so easy to stew and allow bitterness to develop. We “replay the tapes” to ourselves again and again and plot our counterstrike. This is why David says in vrs 4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. If we don’t deal with our anger our praying might make us even more angry! What advice does David offer in vrs 5; offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. Trusting in the Lord means remembering that he knows best. Don’t think you know what the other person deserves or how the world has to go now. What does “offer right sacrifices” mean? Remember Jesus’ response to injustice in 1 Peter 2:23 when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate. …Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” David may be saying in vrs 5, “Give your injustice to God and let him deal with it. You don’t have the power, the wisdom, or the right to judge others. You’ve had this burden all day. Now give it to the judge. Give it up to God. It’s not yours now.”
c) The self-Pitying – vrs 6, 7. In vrs 6 David says; many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” What is meant by the word “good” is seen from David’s reply in vrs 7. The person David has in mind are those who feel that they are not prospering as they had hoped while other people’s grain and new wine abound. These are people who feel that “nothing ever goes right for me.” They feel their lives do not have enough blessing. They want a prosperous, comfortable life, and this does not appear to be happening. St Francis de Sales divided the population into the immature who are unhappy over what they don’t have, and the mature who are happy with what they have already received from God.” For the believer what might that be? In vrs 6b we read; Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. Furthermore in vrs 7 we read; You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. The joy that is being referred to here is that of knowing we belong to God. Unless we put our temporal needs into perspective with these greater blessings we will not defeat our tendency to self-pity.
We will waste those moments before we drift off to sleep unless we intentionally address our hearts propensity to worship idols, review hurtful interactions with others and release them before the Lord and, instead of envying what others around us have remind ourselves of those spiritual blessings that are ours in Christ. When we do this we enjoy the peaceful sleep Psalm 4:8 promises.