Nighttime. Sometimes I welcome it. Sometimes I curse it. It is a welcome relief when I am physically exhausted and just need to “lay me down to sleep.” Other times I curse it when sleep will not come.
Psalm 4 is described as “A Night Prayer.” It is a prayer of David who proudly proclaims, “I will both lie down and sleep in peace….” [vs 8a HCSB]
How can David find such restful sleep when he admits in the first part of the prayer that exalted men insult his honor? He can because of Who God is, and who he is in God.
He declares right off the bat that God “vindicates” him. [vs 1]
He also declares that the LORD has “set apart the faithful for Himself,” and that the LORD will hear when he calls to Him. [vs 3]
Then he remembers that it is the LORD which has put “joy” in his heart. [vs 7]
Vindication. It means to have our distress relieved. God hears us and He is gracious to us.
Set Apart. It means we have been separated by God for His own special purpose. It carries the idea of being wonderfully distinct.
Joy. And when we know that our God hears us, relieves our distress, and has separated us for His own special purpose, that fills our heart with God’s joy!
Thank you, LORD, today our praise focuses on our vindication and separation for Your special purpose. We thank You for the joy You have imparted to our hearts. Amen
