Go! And Rest in the Peace of God - Psalm 4:8
Psalm 4:8 (NLT): “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”
Introduction: The Longing for Rest
Have you ever laid your head on the pillow, yet your mind refuses to rest?
The world around us is filled with noise — notifications, deadlines, worries, regrets, and fears. Anxiety has become the soundtrack of modern life. Yet here in Psalm 4:8, David declares something radical: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”
David doesn’t say, “When all my problems are solved, then I’ll rest.” He doesn’t say, “When I’ve defeated every enemy, then I’ll sleep.” No — he says, “In peace I will lie down and sleep.”
Why? Because David knows the One who rules over every storm.
This morning, God calls us to go — and rest in the peace of God. Not a peace the world gives, but a peace that comes through knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
1. Rest Comes from Trusting the God Who Is Sovereign
Psalm 4 is a psalm of trust written during one of David’s many times of distress — likely during Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15–18). His own son sought to overthrow him. His reputation was under attack, his life in danger, yet he found peace in God.
“In peace (??????? — shalom) I will lie down and sleep.”
The Hebrew word shalom means more than the absence of conflict — it means wholeness, completeness, harmony, and flourishing.
David found shalom not because his circumstances were calm, but because his confidence was in the sovereign God who never sleeps (Psalm 121:4).
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT): “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Isaiah describes perfect peace — literally in Hebrew, shalom shalom — a double portion of God’s completeness for those who fix their minds on Him.
In times of unrest, the key to peace is not controlling the storm but trusting the Saviour who is in control of the storm.
Charles Stanley: “Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.”
When Charles Stanley said this, he was reminding us that faith is not sight; it’s confidence in the unseen hand of God working for our good. David could lie down in peace because he looked beyond the chaos and saw God’s control.
What keeps you awake at night? Finances? Family? Health? When you surrender your worry to God, you can rest — because He is sovereign. Trust turns panic into peace.
2. Rest Comes from Knowing the God Who Is Our Protector
“For you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” — Psalm 4:8
The Hebrew word for keep me safe (?????? — batach) means to trust, to feel secure, to be confident, to rest in safety. It’s the image of a child sleeping soundly in a father’s arms while chaos rages outside.
Psalm 3:5 (NLT): “I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.”
Psalm 3 and Psalm 4 are companion psalms — morning and evening prayers. In Psalm 3, David awakes safely; in Psalm 4, he lies down peacefully. Between the two, we see the rhythm of trust: from sunrise to sunset, God watches over His children.
Max Lucado: “God’s got this. You may feel out of control, but He never is.”
Lucado’s words resonate deeply here. The same God who held David in the wilderness holds us in our weariness. The Almighty does not slumber; His eye never closes.
A missionary once travelled by boat through a storm at sea. While everyone panicked, one child slept soundly. When asked why, the child said, “Because my father is the captain.”
If your Father is the Captain of your life, you can sleep through the storm.
In an age of fear — of viruses, wars, economic instability — the believer’s confidence must rest not in politicians or paychecks, but in the protective power of Almighty God.
3. Rest Comes from Belonging to the God Who Provides Peace Through Christ
The peace David knew was a shadow of the greater peace we have in Jesus Christ.
John 14:27 (NLT): “I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
When Jesus spoke these words, He was on His way to the cross. He offered peace, not by removing trouble, but by overcoming it. The world’s peace depends on circumstances; Christ’s peace depends on His presence.
Tim Keller: “The peace of God is not the absence of fear. It is, in fact, His presence in the midst of fear.”
Through the cross, Jesus made peace between sinful humanity and a holy God.
“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)
The name Yeshua — Jesus — means “The Lord saves.” True peace (shalom) comes only through the salvation Jesus provides.
A man once built a large clock that stopped working one night. He tried everything to fix it, but nothing worked. Finally, he took it back to the maker, who adjusted one small spring — and it began to tick perfectly again.
When our hearts are restless, only the One who made us can restore us to peace. Jesus is the Maker and the Restorer of our souls.
You cannot manufacture peace through meditation, money, or modern therapy alone. Peace is a Person — and His name is Jesus.
4. Rest Comes from Surrendering to the God Who Rules Our Tomorrows
Psalm 4:8 doesn’t end with David saying, “I might sleep.” He says, “I will lie down and sleep.” It is an act of surrender. He chooses to rest because he trusts the One who holds tomorrow.
Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT): “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Paul wrote these words from prison — and yet he knew peace. Why? Because peace is not found in a place; it’s found in a Person.
John Piper: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
Piper reminds us that when our hearts find rest in God, we reflect His glory to a weary world. Worry whispers, “You’re in control.” Faith declares, “God is.”
Every time you choose prayer over panic, gratitude over grumbling, faith over fear — you proclaim to the world that Jesus is Lord over your life.
The Gospel: The Ultimate Source of Peace
Our greatest lack of peace is not financial, emotional, or relational — it’s spiritual.
Sin separates us from God. We are restless until we find rest in Him.
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” — Romans 5:1 (NLT)
At the cross, Jesus bore our sin, shame, and judgement.
He died to reconcile us to God, was buried, and rose again on the third day. His resurrection declares victory over death and offers peace to all who believe.
Peace is not the absence of problems; it is the presence of Christ within you.
A Call to Action:
My friends, where do you turn for peace?
Sleep will not come to an anxious soul until that soul rests in Jesus.
Today, God invites you to surrender your worries, your sins, your striving, and receive His peace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Repent — turn from sin. Believe — trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Receive — the peace of God that passes all understanding.
If you are already a believer, let this be your daily posture:
Lay down your burdens before the Lord each night.
Begin each day with gratitude and trust.
Live in the peace that Christ provides, so that the world may see the Prince of Peace living in you.
Conclusion and Benediction:
Peace is not found in possessions, progress, or people — it’s found in the presence of Jesus.
As you go this week, remember the words of Psalm 4:8: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”
May you go — and rest in the peace of God.
May His Spirit calm your heart, His Word guard your mind, and His Son reign over your life.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)
Amen.
