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Week 24: August 7-13

Sleep in Peace 

Psalm 3:5

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.

Sleep is an interesting thing. Some of us can fall asleep anywhere at anytime. Some of us have to have the perfect location or temperature to find sleep. But many of us understand the sleeplessness that comes with worry and stress. I never experienced trouble with sleep until God started to move us from our previous job to our role here at Harvest. Leaving, moving, starting a new job and life in a new city and church brought many sleepless nights. David talks about sleep in his 3rd Psalm.

David shows the response that the man of God has in the face of great turmoil. In Psalm 3 David is writing about his experience while running for his life from his son Absalom. Absalom was trying to kill David and take over the kingdom. There is a peculiar reference to sleep in verse 5. But David isn’t talking about catching a catnap or falling asleep from pure exhaustion, David’s confidence in God allows him to turn off anxiety and rest.

Psalm 3 is talking about pressure! David feared for his life. David was on the run from a pursuing army. How do we make the connections to our lives today? Many of us live in great distress. Many of us have very serious family, financial, or health burdens we are bearing. David refers to wicked rulers and kings in the Psalms, and there are many wicked and ungodly rulers and nations that affect our daily life. The great thing about applying what the Psalm is saying is none of us can say we are in a worst situation than David. So we need to see how David processes these pressures.

First of all, David states the realities of his situation. There is no problem with this. This is not complaining, it is just pouring your heart out to God. We should start here; lay your burdens at God’s feet. Dump it all out, great or small. God already knows what is going on, but He wants you to communicate with Him in prayer.

Secondly, David affirms who God is. In Chapter 3 David proclaims that God is his shield, his glory, and the lifter of David’s head. God is his protector. God is our boast - He is what is important about us, not our earthly performance. Although David’s head was hanging low in sorrow, God would lift it up and bring him renewed joy and peace.

Third, David responds based on his heart-level understanding of who God is. In verse 6 he says “I will not be afraid of all who have set themselves against me.” In verse 5 he simply says he sleeps. When we toil in anxiety and worry, we are leaning on our own effort and strength to affect the situation. David plainly and simply says that God is in control and is his protector. David then falls asleep while “thousands” wait to kill him.

So, how do you sleep? Does anxiety keep you awake at night? Does your mind keep you awake trying to figure out a solution or answer to your problems? Little children, do you fear at night and have trouble sleeping? Turn to God, and read the Psalms so you can understand who God is. Then respond like David, following up in Psalm 4:8, "In peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

Pray Together

  1. Pray that God helps your family learn who God is through reading His word and applying it in a peaceful spirit in the midst of trouble.
  2. Pray that God will create an opportunity for a Gospel conversation this week.
  3. Pray that God will develop in you a heart of prayer and dependence on Him.

Further Reading

  1. You can read the story of Absalom and his rebellion in 2 Samuel chapters 3, 13, 14, 15, 16,17,18,19, and 20.
  2. Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - You can read these commentaries on the Psalms for free at spurgeon.org.
  3. “Psalms” by Sovereign Grace Music – A great album of scripture songs from the Psalms.
Posted by Rob Fipps with