Psalm   4      Heavenly Sleep

Rev. David Holwick  ZB

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey

August 29, 1999

Psalm 4:1-8


HEAVENLY SLEEP



  I. Insomnia.

      A. Do you ever have trouble falling asleep?

          1) Millions are spent on sleeping aids.

              a) Billy Graham has suffered from insomnia for decades.

          2) I had a bout of it on Friday.

                 Went to bed late, as usual.  (Celeste at work)

                 Woke up at 3:30 thinking mice were gnawing on my

                     pillow - I hate it when that happens.

                 Then at 5:30 a.m. the doorbell rang.

                     At least I think it did.

                 I stumbled to find my clothes, ran downstairs.

                     No one at front or back.

                     Looked down street - figures were moving.

                        I didn't have my glasses on, couldn't be sure.


      B. Our stress and struggles overflow at night.

          1) Unresolved tensions in life, relationships.

          2) Spiritual struggles.


      C. In a troubled world, how can we find peaceful sleep?


           In Psalm 4, David unlocks for us the secret of his peace.

           He is able to lie down in safety,

              in the absolute assurance of peace and quiet,

                 not because he has taken pills,

                    or because he is free from worry and care,

           but because he knows how to deal with everything and everyone

              in life that would rob him of peace.

                                         Rev. Alan Campbell, Presbyterian

                                         Sermon, "Sleeping Peacefully"


II. David's distress.                                             4:1

      A. At night, David is tempted to brood on past wrongs.

          1) Background could be revolt by son Absalom.         (Psalm 3)

          2) Word "distress" suggests being in a tight corner.


      B. This challenges David to affirm his faith.

          1) "My righteous God" - appeals to God's character.

              a) God will always do right.

          2) Also, in psalm David decides to urge this faith on others.


      C. David faced three groups of opponents.


III. David's answer to the fickle.                                 4:2-3

      A. David's authority is challenged.

          1) David appeals to their goodwill and good sense. (?)

          2) They show their contempt through slander and false promises.

              a) "False gods" is literally "lies."

              b) Alternate interpretation: God is speaking through

                    David, and rebuking their idolatry.


      B. Ultimately his vindication will come from God, not people.   4:3

          1) God's choice of a person is the ultimate answer to

                 wounds and discouragements.

          2) Does your relationship with God have more power over you

                than the "slings and arrows" of jerks?


IV. David's answer to hot-heads.                                  4:4-5

      A. Impulsive opponents.

          1) If some loyalties are too wavering, others are too fierce.

              a) Biblical example of impulsiveness: James 1:19-20

          2) Both can be equally damaging.


      B. Anger and sin.

          1) Unusual phrase.

              a) Not "in your anger" but a command, "BE ANGRY."

                  1> (One of the easier Bible commands!)

              b) The root of anger in Hebrew is "tremble" and some think

                     it means "tremble before God and don't sin."

                  1> But the LXX and Ephesians support meaning of anger.

                  2> How we deal with it is critical.

          2) Background to Ephesians 4:26.

              a) Anger is a natural thing, comes to everyone.

              b) How we handle it makes a huge difference.

                  1> Prisons are filled with people who let it devour them.

          3) Sleep on it before you act?

              a) Paul goes farther - settle it before morning.


                 Don Nut of Lamesa, Texas, has been married to his wife

                    fifty years.

                 He says that the secret is that they never went to bed

                    without settling any differences between them.

                 But Don concedes there have been times when he went

                    ten days without sleep.                         #29792


              b) David is not saying "get them in the morning."

                  1> Verse 5 looks humbly to God as our vindicator.

                      A> Let God deal with them.

                  2> Offer right sacrifices.                       4:5

                      A> Cain's problem was in his heart, not his offering.

                                                  Hebrews 11:4; Gen 4:2-7

                      B> Good sacrifices must come from a good heart.


      C. Nighttime is a good opportunity to take assessment.       4:4

          1) Most people focus on God then.

              a) (at least, before they fall asleep!)

          2) Silent - listen for God's perspective.


  V. David's answer to defeatists.                                 4:6-7

      A. He is surrounded by pessimists.

          1) "Who can show us any good?"                           4:6

          2) Only bad stuff will happen to us.


      B. Verse 6b is a prayer.

          1) His friends long for better times.

          2) David longs and prays for God.


      C. Inward and outward joy.                                   4:7

          1) Outward comes from pleasant set of circumstances.

              a) Prosperity makes people feel good.

              b) Or it is supposed to - why do so many feel lousy?

          2) Inward comes from God, through every discouragement.


VI. Well-founded peace.                                           4:8

      A. "In safety" is closer to "unafraid."          cf. Proverbs 1:33


      B. David has this confidence because of the character of his God.

          1) God relieves distress.

          2) Sets apart the godly.

          3) Hears prayer.

          4) Is trustworthy.

          5) He gives gladness (7), peace (8) and safety (8).


      C. How contented is your life?


         Bishop Robert Goodrich tells a story of a woman who lived

            during the Great Depression.

         It was a horrible time.

            27% were unemployed, and there was little welfare.

         This woman had reached the end of her physical and emotional

            rope.

         Her husband's salary was very small and never enough, and

            he was often sick.

         The bank foreclosed on their mortgage, and was preparing

            to take their home.


         They had a huge bill at the grocery store and their five

            children were hungry, and needed clothing.

         She took in other people's washing and ironing to earn more,

            but they just seemed to be sinking deeper and deeper in debt.

         All seemed lost and she couldn't see any hope for the future.


         One morning after the four older children headed off for school,

            she took her youngest daughter into the bedroom.

         The woman then plugged the windows with paper and rags, turned

            on the gas heater but didn't light it, and the two of them

               lay down on the bed.

         The little girl said, "Mom, why are we laying down?  We only

            got up a little while ago."

         "Never mind", the mother answered, "We'll take a little nap."


         Then she closed her eyes and waited for death to come.

            She could hear the hiss of gas coming from the heater.

         As she listened in the almost complete silence, she realized

            that she heard something else.

         It was music, coming from the kitchen.

            She had forgotten to turn off the radio in the kitchen.

         And as she listened, she heard someone on the radio singing

            an old hymn.


                "Oh, what peace we often forfeit;

                    oh, what needless pain we bear;

                 All because we do not carry

                    everything to God in prayer."


         And in the depth of her mind and heart she suddenly knew she'd

            made a terrible mistake.

         She had tried to fight all her battles alone.

            She had forgotten to use the resources of her faith.

         She struggled to her feet, turned off the gas, opened the

            windows and doors, and began the process of changing her life.


         It was not easy, of course, but she discovered that the strength

            of her faith was equal to anything and everything she was

               tempted to worry about.

         She put all her children through school, and years later,

            looking back, was able to write:


         "The blackest moments we live through can only last a little

            time, and then comes the future."

                                                                    #4768


      D. Commit your troubles to a caring God.



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The outline of the sermon was heavily influenced by Derek Kidner's

commentary on Psalms 1-72, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, IVP, 1975.


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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:


#4768  "You've Probably Never Said It, But Chances Are You've Felt It,"

          sermon by Rev. Kevin Tully, United Methodist Church of the

          Good Shepherd, Yukon, Oklahoma, April 13, 1997; story is from

          Bishop Robert Goodrich.


#6332  Parsons Supplement database, attributed to Associated Press but

          no other details.


These and 4,500 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,

absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html

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