The 4th Psalm is often paired with the 3rd Psalm and categorized as parallel prayers of trust in God; one for the morning and one for the evening. Since David was running for his life from his son, Absalom, this Psalm has a lot of credibility.
David’s quest for peace and safety involves three steps in this portion of Scripture. First, he calls out to God and asks for help. He talks to God about the people who want to do him in. He anticipates a good night’s sleep in spite of his troubles.
Next, he seems to call out to his adversaries in verse 6. These are the ones who “love what is worthless” and “aim at deception” (v. 2). David’s previous prayer allows him to stand up to their pressure.
Finally, he crawls into bed in peace. After all is said and done, David renews his trust in God. He finds his gladness and security in God, not in what others are scheming or saying about Him.
This Psalm is an invitation to join David on his quest for peace and safety. We have to same opportunity to call out to God before calling out to our adversaries. Speaking of this dynamic, Charles Spurgeon said, “He who dares to face his Maker will not tremble before the sons of men.” If we approach our own quest in this order, we have a good chance of arriving at our destination, safe and sound.
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