“Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord. There are many who say, “O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!” You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound. I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.” Psalm 4

“Psalm 4 is a psalm of comfort, and at the same time a psalm of prayer and instruction that teaches us to trust in God when things go wrong. It rebukes the ungodly, who concern themselves over vain gods and fleshly comfort, yet will not bear to wait confidently for God, who is the highest comfort. God surprises us by how He deals with His saints. At first, He abandons them and tries their faith and patience. On the other hand are the ungodly who want to have a full and secure belly. If anyone talks to them about faith and patience, they mock and despise Him and say, “Can this fool tell us what is good? Yes, you be patient until a roast chicken flies into your mouth. Trust in that and you will starve!” This psalm belongs to the First Commandment. It teaches and urges us to hope in God and endure hardship and every need with patience, and it rebukes the faithless and impatient. Psalm 4 is included in the Third and Seventh Petitions, in which we pray that God’s will be done and that we be delivered from evil. It can also be in the Fourth Petition, when we ask for our daily bread, that is, for peace and all the necessities of life in the face of every earthly need.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

Do you ever have trouble sleeping at night? I have trouble every night — from either things that roll around in my brain, or the aches and pains fo being older, it is hard to get a good night’s sleep. The things that keep me awake are varied: How high would the electric bill be this month? Who did I miss visiting this month? What are my parents going to do with their current situation? How silly of me to let such trite things rob me of sleep — and yet in the middle of the night, they do not seem so trite.

Verse 8 of the 4th Psalm should be our goal: “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Whatever concerns we have that keep us awake at night, we should spend as much time in prayer as we do in worry. My suggestion to you is this: Pray to G-d today, that you will remember every day to take all of your difficulties to G-d. Then, go to sleep in peace trusting that they are now in the hands of G-d.

Prayer

O God, our merciful Father in heaven, fill our hearts with patience under the cross, strengthen our faith, and so govern us that we give offense to none, neither in word nor deed. Grant us also this day of comfort and a night of restful sleep that we need for body and soul. Amen.

“O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying to me, “There is no help for you in God.” But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me. I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Rise up, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Deliverance belongs to the Lord; may your blessing be on your people!” Psalm 3

“Psalm 3 is a psalm of prayer in which we follow the example of David. He prayed this prayer in distress when his son Absalom expelled him, and his prayer was granted to him. At the end, David glorifies God for being a true helper and keeper for all of His people who call on Him in distress. This psalm belongs to the First Commandment, that God will be our God and our help. The psalm is in the Seventh Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, in which we pray to be delivered from all evil.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

What do you do when life falls apart? Few of us have gone through anything close to the trauma that David was experiencing, or even the troubles of Joseph because of his brothers. But most people have had times when they could identify with David, or Joseph, or even Peter. Perhaps you thought that things were fine at work, but you suddenly got called into the boss’ office and were fired for false allegations. Perhaps you were caught off guard by a sudden diagnosis, or a death of a loved one. You received a medical bill you did not expect and now wonder how you will provide for your family. Sometimes, life just falls apart.

If you find you are caught off guard by life throwing you a curve, remember that, along with so many in this congregation, and this community, you join a long procession of people who have been caught off guard when their lives fell apart. But, you should remember that you are not alone — G-d continues to walk with us on these difficult paths. As the Psalmist says: Deliverance belongs to the Lord. As such, we need to trust G-d and remember the Lord continues to sustain us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be with us as the sure defense of Your Church. Defend us against our enemies, preserve us from the persecutions of the wicked, and when our last hour has come, deliver us from all evil, both of body and soul, and receive us into Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.