“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
(Psalm 4:8: all scripture is from the king James Version)
This verse is one which should give us encouragement in every situation.It is good to trust in the Lord, his power and his promises.
This psalm has always been attributed to King David. Written at a time when David’s son, Absalom had rebelled against him. Absalom had sought to take David’s throne, and this is because David great heartache, for his flesh and blood had turned against him.
“O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.” (Psalm 4:2)
In this verse he refers to the conspiracy of Absalom to have him looked upon as an unfit King. Yet in the midst of all this natural pain of being in dispute with a loved one, he rejoices in God.
“But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” (Psalm 4:3)
In the midst of his trials and tribulation, David was certain of God’s continuing love. If you remember God entered into a covenant with the people of Israel. He made promises to them eternal promises. The imagery involved in such a covenant would remind them of two tribes wanting to covenant one with the other. The covenant representatives of the tribe would slay an ox and have, and would walk through the blood together and this was known as the covenant walk; they then offered the best of what they had. He would place a scar on the wrists to remind them of this blood covenant. They are enemies would become the other tribes’ enemies, their friends his friends and vice a versa. And that imagery of covenant was a reflection of the covenant of God David saw himself as a covenant friend of God therefore God would be loyal to his every situation. He would be safe and God hear and respond to his prayers. All because he had entered into this covenant love. This being so, the wicked should abandon the sinful ways. The situation of opposition to David was not right been cast out of his palace, denounced by his own son. There would not be a conspiracy, maliciousness, and betrayal. For if they had acted properly towards David and they were in the Lord these things would not take place.
Psa 4:4 KJVA
“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” (Psalm 4:4)
Absalom had tried to show himself right with the people and before God. It is worthy of note in this Psalm, David has no hesitancy he went to God straight away which is what we must do in times of trial and tribulation.
What can we learn from this Psalm? We discover that the Bible is filled with people who would be quite home in a Shakespearean tragedy; we discover the intrigue and conspiracy of Dallas or Dynasty. In the act of betrayal and conspiracy Absalom makes J.R. look like a Cub Scout we discover again the Scripture deals with real people in real situations. We empathise with the situation in which David found himself. Often in similar situations we can panic, try and solve the problem ourselves. David neither panicked or relied on his own strength. He went directly to God.
No matter what our life situations we need to remember God’s covenant love for us in Jesus Christ.
Jesus has the scars to prove it.
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Rev.Geordie
