In Peace I Will Lie Down and Sleep — Proverbs 21

0:00 Good morning. Good morning. Open your Bibles to Psalm chapter four. Psalm chapter four. The the meeting for Boys to Men, the the men that meet is gonna be at my house this Saturday because the Bingham home, there's...

0:24 It's... There's construction all over the place, and we can't even get into their home. So by default, we had to come to to my house. And Devon has people coming over for the weekend, and they won't be able to host us either. So there you go.

0:39 Welcome to all of you. So glad you're here. We're very grateful for the music, the young people practice, and are taking it very seriously. And so we're grateful that we can sing to the Lord. And thank you, Andy, for working with them and leading us always in singing.

1:03 For some reason, I opened to Hebrews, and I'm not sure why. Give me a minute to get to Psalm. They are. I'm a little little bit off. Okay, let's pray.

1:15 Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for the lord Jesus, our blessed savior. We pray that the Holy Spirit who is the one that gives us insight into scripture, who guided the scriptures to be written, who inspired them, the very words of God. We pray that that same holy spirit would give us understanding of your word today. Jesus name, amen.

1:40 Okay, Psalm four. We're going to actually read Psalm three and four. I'm going to focus on Psalm four. They go together. And so before we read it, let me just remind you that have you been in a circumstance when suddenly you get the phone call?

1:56 I remember that we were at my home. We had the family over. We're celebrating my daughter's birthday and suddenly I get a phone call from my brother that my my sister had passed away. It's like, woah, you know, just catches you when you're not ready. A friend of mine, their their two boys were driving one day and they get the phone call suddenly from the police that they were in a car accident and both of them had passed away.

2:23 And it was just such a shock. It's like, wow. And another friend of mine, I called him a couple of days ago to catch up with him. I said, how are doing? And he says, not good.

2:33 I just got a call that my brother-in-law passed away. I'm like, wow. That that that call, that phone call that comes in. And I know that even this week, brother Andy got the call, right, that your mom you know, had cancer and it's like, wow. You get those cars.

2:49 Chapter three and four, it has that as a background. David is is sitting in a in his, I guess, in his throne or or in the palace or in his home and he gets the the the news that there's a coup starting up. There... There's a rebellion happening, and suddenly, there there there... There's an army forming, they're gonna come and get you.

3:12 You better you better get ready and and get ready to flee. But that's that's not so much of a shock. I mean, I guess that's something to be expected sometimes, especially in those days. But I think the shock was the the one who's leading the whole thing is your own son, And your own son wants to kill you. While you're talking about getting that phone call, you know, getting that that bad news, that that that cold, that glass of cold water that falls on top of you.

3:43 It's like, wow. And and not only that, David, not only that, but he finds out a little bit later as they're fleeing that the one that was leading that rebellion with his son was one of his best friends. Ahithophel, that was his name. And one of your best friends is the one that's advising him as to how to how to defeat you. Wow.

4:09 And so this, Psalm three and four, are together really but we're to unpack four more. It has to do with that. So as we read, be be thinking of that. Be thinking of that. David is fleeing.

4:23 He already fled his house with with his faithful soldiers and the people. They're they're feeling they're running. The other army is getting together and they're coming towards Jerusalem and they're looking for David to kill him and leading the whole army is his own son and some other men who who were loyal to David for so many years. And so this has to do with that. So let's read.

5:20 But thou, oh Lord, art a shield about me. My glory, and the one who lifts my head. I was crying to the Lord with my voice, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I laid down and slept. I awoke for the Lord sustained me.

5:37 I would not be afraid of 10 thousands of people who have set themselves against me roundabout. Arise, oh Lord, save me, oh my God, for thou hast smitten all my enemies on the cheek. Thou hast shattered their teeth, the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Thy blessing be upon thy people.

6:00 Chapter four. Answer me when I call, oh God of my righteousness. Thou hast relieved me in my distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach?

6:20 How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?. But now... But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for himself. The Lord hears when I call to him. Tremble and do not sin.

6:39 Meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness and trust in the Lord. Many are saying, who will show us any good? Lift up the light of thy continents upon us. Oh Lord, thou hast put gladness in my heart more than their grain and their new wine abound, when their grain and their new wine abound.

7:08 In peace, I will both lie down and sleep, for thou alone, oh Lord, does make me to dwell in safety. Okay. And so, as we see then, this is about David when he was fleeing from his son and and the whole army that was coming against him, and how he's responding in light of this terrible trial that has come upon him. But but his life was in immediate danger. He had to get out of there quick.

7:42 I I think that you would agree with me that it's it's one thing if it was just a group of men, an army that formed against him that was gonna attack him, that wanted to kill him. I I I think he can almost understand that to a point. But I think that you would agree with me that he... This was a crushing blow when it was his own son. Some of you have experienced rebellious children, and and it's just it's just so hurtful in light of it's my own flesh and blood trying to kill me.

8:18 But I think you would agree with me that it takes it to another level when it was one of his best friends who was advising him. And if you recall the story, his friend told him, I want you, when you go into Jerusalem, you're gonna go up into the palace and you're gonna get the 10 concubines that he left behind to guard the palace. You're gonna get them and you're gonna commit indecent acts with them in front of everybody. It's like, it's bad enough that it was my my own son that's doing this, but Ahithophel, my my good friend, how in the world could you advise my son to do something like that? And so you can agree with me then that David was crushed.

9:04 It it was it was something just almost like, can can this really be happening like a glass of cold water on a freezing day? Really, it's like, wow. So it was it was like a nightmare unfolding. And so they grab their positions and their things and they run. They run for their lives and they're and they're trying to get ready to see what they're gonna do, how they're gonna handle this army coming at him.

9:47 I'm running for my life. I... I'm I'm I'm thinking because they were they were running so quickly and trying to get away that when they finally get near to the the Jordan River, they're exhausted and who knows what's going through his mind, all of these thoughts. And so then at that time, he finally has enough time just to sit there and just to cry out to God. And he says, answer me when I call, oh God, of my righteousness.

10:15 Thou hast relieved me in in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. Four in verse one. So basically, what he's saying is, god, here I am. I'm I'm throwing myself at your mercy.

10:27 I'm praying to you. Please answer me. But he also says within that time, you have relieved me in my distress. I have found relief. His walk with God was was so strong that even in a moment like this, he can say, when I'm throwing myself at your feet and praying to you, I can say that you have given me relief.

10:51 Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. And so God did answer the prayers and he's gonna show us how he responded to this crisis, to this crisis. Right now, verse two. O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?

11:17 Yeah. You know, Absalom dishonored his father. He he had to. He he was forming... He he was angry at his dad and and he wanted to take over the kingdom and be the king.

11:33 And so in order for that to be true, he had to to slam his father. He had to talk bad about him. He had to dishonor him. That was very very... A very serious thing to do in the cultures back then.

11:47 It's still serious today. Right? Just as serious. But can you imagine then? So he's getting his friends and and he's talking bad about his dad and and they're saying lies.

11:56 And and and so David is like, how long are going to keep this up? Why are you all doing this? So David is thinking, I did so much for the people. I fought so many battles to bring peace and prosperity to to this country, to to Israel, and yet you so quickly turned on me. So Absalom then was speaking bad against his father.

12:19 He was being disrespectful, and he was lying. It kind of remind me of of Jesus when when he was approaching Jerusalem. Do you remember that? And and other people are saying, Hosanna to to to the to the lord. Well, let me read it so to be right.

12:33 Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord. Hosanna in the highest. That's Matthew twenty one nine. And a week later, many of those same people were saying what?

12:44 Crucify him. Boy, they quickly turned on him, didn't they? So this is one of those where where David did so much for the for the people. He had brought prosperity. He had brought peace.

12:56 And just like that, they turned on him, and they wanted to kill him. And in the case of the Lord Jesus, they they did kill him. Their hearts, it says they love deception, and they will do worthless acts. They deceive the people, and they turn their heart against us. Okay.

13:42 So one thing, as a man of God, he's facing a crisis. It's a terrible crisis. It's very personal. It's it's very deep because it's his own son. It's even worse because it's his good friend that that are that are leading this whole thing and then they're saying lies about him.

14:00 They're slamming his name. They're dishonoring him. And then he... But he he he focuses on god as we're saying in the lord's supper this morning. Right?

14:08 He focuses on god and he said, this is one thing I know for sure. Even if I can't make sense out of all of this, that God has set me apart for himself. Wow. Look, I don't know what's going to happen, but God has this under control, and he set me apart for himself. That's what he does with every godly man.

14:32 As it says in first Corinthians, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, that is set apart to God for God's possession and use. Now he said this to people who are very cardinal and and not living the Christian life like they should. So, so in spite of their imperfections and the way they were living, they were still set apart for god because they were born again believers, right? And so god and so David is saying, look, one thing I can tell you for sure, even if I can't make sense of this right now, that god set me apart for himself and he's got a purpose for this and that I know, that I know, that I'm god's man and and he knows what he's allowing and the second thing he says is the lord hears when I pray, when I call out to him. So, what do we do then when we're facing a a terrible circumstance like this?

15:26 Something so negative, something so awful where we throw ourselves at the mercy of god and we cry out to him and pray. Amen? That's what we do. And so David appeals to the fact that I know that god set me apart for himself. I I belong to god.

15:43 I know that when I approach him in prayer, he's going to hear my prayer And if we approach him in prayer and don't have that confidence that he's gonna hear our prayer, that certainly is a hopeless circumstance. Wouldn't you agree? Yes, it would be. So look what he says then in a couple of Psalms. Follow with me.

16:02 Psalm three and verse four. I was crying to the Lord with my voice and he answered me from his holy mountain. Look at chapter six and verse nine. The Lord has heard my supplication. The Lord receives my prayer.

16:17 Look at 116, turn there. 116 and verse one and two. I love the lord because he hears my voice and my supplication because he has inclined his ear to me. Therefore, I shall call upon him as long as I live. Look at chapter 66 and verse 19.

16:42 Look at sixty six and nineteen. Give you a minute to find it. This what it says, but certainly god has heard, he has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be god who has not turned away my prayer nor his loving kindness from me. And so David is basically...

17:35 So he understands what you're going through right now and whatever your crisis may be, he's listening. So after he establishes that, God has set apart the godly man for himself, and he hears when I pray, then he goes into more practical things. Look at verse four. He says, tremble and do not sin. Tremble and do not sin.

18:00 Now what do you do when you can't sleep at night because of the problem before him? He said, look, I can tell you what's going on because it happened to me. I was trembling, but I did not sin. Isn't that interesting? The ESV puts it this way, be angry.

18:20 The New Living Translation, don't sin by letting anger control you. The amplified, tremble with anger or fear and so do not sin. So in other words, he had every right at this moment to just get angry and do a lot of evil. And I think the world would justify and say, well, David, they did you wrong. They, you know, they try to form a coup against you.

18:50 So you have the right to just lash out and do whatever you want. So what what did he say to his generals? Whatever happens, don't kill my son. Because he wanted to see if he can restore that relationship. Don't kill him.

19:08 But what happened to to Abner, one of the generals, when he saw him, he lashed out in anger, and then he just killed him. He killed him. And so how we respond in light of this kind of a trial is very important. And David is saying, look, I know what it's like. And I was trembling.

19:31 And yes, I was angry, but I didn't sin with my anger. I didn't sin with my anger. So then the next thing he says is this, tremble and do not sin. Meditate in your heart upon your bed. So the next he says is, look, I want you to think before you respond in anger and do what you shouldn't do, before you you say the wrong thing, before you send that text out...

19:58 Since we gotta we gotta bring it to modern days. Right? Before you send out that text, before you say that thing, meditate in your heart. This is a time because you're not gonna sleep anyway, right? You're be up all night.

20:09 You might as well meditate and say, Lord, what are you trying to teach me here? How should I respond to this? My immediate response would be just to lash out in anger and get a hold of a Hytophel and and get a hold of that boy and just... But but I I don't wanna do that. And so you you you meditate and you and you pray and you're talking to God.

20:37 And then the next thing he says is, while you're meditating in your heart upon your bed, be still. Be still. Be still and know that I am God, Psalm 4six 10. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.

20:55 Habakkuk two twenty, but the Lord is in his holy temple. Let all the earth keep silent before him. Now why was he saying that? You remember Habakkuk was saying, God, it seems to me that you're not fair. It seems to me that you're allowing Babylon to come and punish Judah.

21:15 That's not right. And and and he and he was confused with God. And God's answer to him is, listen, Habakkuk, just be quiet. Just be still. Be still.

21:28 I'm in my holy temple. I got this under control. Let all the earth keep silent before him. John Phillips, which who is a commentator in the Psalms, he passed away already but wow, beautiful book. He says this, the word translated still could be translated silent or be quiet Or it could even mean shut up.

21:53 God would have us to be silent and listen to what he has to say. So God, the situation is so bad. I'm anxious, and I'm riding around in my bed. Please help me to settle down. Help me to be still and to be quiet and to listen.

22:16 So the next thing he says to do is this, offer the sacrifice of righteousness. You know, it's... I find it interesting that this morning, the Lord's Supper, there was a big focus, a big emphasis on keeping your eyes on Jesus. Basically, what he's saying is this, the situation is so bad that it'll drive you crazy if you keep thinking about it. How about you you look at Jesus and think about him?

22:43 Offer sacrifice of worship in the right spirit. Worship God. Focus on God. Sing a song of praise. Think about him and all that he's done for you in the past.

22:55 When under pressure, we tend to feel sorry for ourselves. And many times we get depressed. Instead of focusing on God, on his grace, on his love, on his faithfulness, on his purpose in allowing this trial. So that's what David is saying. Look, I...

23:11 It would have drove me crazy if I wouldn't have focused on him and and worshiped. I offered a sacrifice to him. A sacrifice of righteousness. And then he says, trust in the Lord. Trust in the lord.

23:26 When in trouble, we all trust in something, don't we? And and and as David was praying and meditating, trying to gather himself in the midst of such terrifying circumstances, he concluded, I have trusted god in the past and I'm going to trust him now. Psalm nine ten, and those who know thy name will put their trust in thee. For thou, oh lord, has not forsaken those who seek thee. So trust him.

24:09 It's like a nightmare. I can't believe this is happening, but this is what I say. I'm trembling in my bed, but I don't wanna sin with my anger. I'm meditating in my heart and asking God to help show me what to do. And I'm being still, I'm being quiet, I'm listening.

24:29 And I've turned my focus on him, and I started to worship and sing to him. Then I realized I can trust God. Even in this circumstance, I can trust him. And then we get the the the... What I call the classic scenario.

24:50 Right? Verse six. Many are saying, who will show us any good? Remember, there was a group of them that that ran with David, that fled with David. That's that's the whole...

25:02 His faithful soldiers and a bunch of people, they're running and they're already near the the River Jordan. Then they they were advised, you better cross the river because the army's coming. So they crossed the river. And then you always get your negative people. Right?

25:17 The the eternal pessimist. Who's gonna... Who will show us better time? Everything is falling apart. We're in war.

25:24 The relatives are fighting. There's going be injuries and death and loss. We're going to lose our land and our possession. What terrible times. Misery and suffering and there's no hope.

25:35 Again, Phillips in his commentary seems to think that there were some that were negative, and they couldn't see a way out. They were probably saying, we're going to lose this cause. We're going to be defeated. It kind of reminded me of the 12 spies when they came back. And instead of being encouraged that God is with us, they said, we can't defeat them.

25:57 They're going to crush us. And they discourage so many people. May not be that that that my lack of faith and my lack of trust in the sovereign god turned people from god. The last thing David needed was to hear those who were grumbling in his ear reminding him how bad the situation was. I think he understood how bad it was.

26:22 So then David again turns to God. Lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, oh Lord. Basically, what he's saying is, Lord, shine your face upon us. Bring us your blessing. May may may we see your favor.

26:39 May we see your hand working in this circumstance. And so I'm reminded of Joshua one nine, be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Now after he says all this, then he says in his concluding statement something so remarkable. It kind of blows me away.

27:07 Notice verse seven. Thou has put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and new wine abound. In peace, will both lie down and sleep. For thou alone, O Lord, does make me to dwell in safety. Now notice what he says then.

27:32 He says three things. You've given me joy, you've given me peace, and you have given me security. Now, those are the three things you would think that David definitely does not have right now. Right? Would you agree with me?

27:48 The three things that he doesn't have right now is joy, peace, and security. And so he he makes a comparison in verse seven. You have put gladness in my heart more than their their grain and their new wine. This was talking about the annual harvest festival of Israel, the great feast of tabernacles. Basically, what it was was that when it was time to collect the the the harvest, the the grain, the corn, the the grapes, the wine, all that stuff, There was a big celebration because there was so much food.

28:20 All the warehouses were full of grain and food, and and they were celebrating, and there was joy. And so he goes, you think they're... Have joy in their heart? I have more joy than they do. Now, my first response to this was, okay, Dev, you're exaggerating.

28:38 But if I remember correctly, the Bible is inspired by God and and as this is being spoken, we know that David wasn't gonna lie right here, and he was actually saying the truth. It may not seem possible to believe this, but I actually have joy in my heart. So David was reduced to poverty, and he had to accept charity. Remember when he was fleeing, those of you know the story, when he was running, friends had to bring him food and water. And so this is incredible.

29:13 Let let me quote again Phillips. David's spirit soared. After all, what he had... What had he lost? A palace?

29:22 A loaded table? Money? Mere material things. What do you have left? God.

29:30 His joy was in God and not in goods. Goods could come and go, but as long as he had God, he had everything and he could say, I have joy in my heart more than when they're collecting all of this food and there's so much joy and celebration. Wow. The next thing he says is, I have peace. But but, David, you realize the army is coming.

30:14 And so what did he what did he do in light of circumstance? They're they're fleeing. They finally arrive at a place that's dark and late at night. He's praying to god and then he says, look, I have joy in my heart, not only that, but I have peace. So what did he do in the midst of all of this?

30:29 He went to bed. He went to bed. That's what he said. Look at look what he said. In peace, I will both lie down and sleep.

30:39 Notice chapter three and verse five, I lay down and I slept and I awoke for the lord sustains me. Now, I want you to understand this. David understood that it's not COVID that was going to take his life. Alright? Did you hear that one?

30:57 Oh, the COVID, the COVID. It's the army, they're going to surround you. It's not them that the lord has determined when I'm going to die and I'm not going to worry about it. And so y'all can... Army soldiers, the generals, y'all go ahead and plan out your strategy for tomorrow.

31:12 I'm going to bed. I'm going to bed, and he did. He went in. Boom. Where where's David?

31:18 He's sleeping. That's what he said he did. Twice he said in chapter three and four. I fell asleep. Now this is something supernatural.

31:30 It's a peace of God that surpasses all understanding because I could not sleep under these circumstances, could you? I'd be tossing all night in bed, you know, jumping at any sound. But he actually did. And then he says another remarkable statement. Thou alone, you God, only you, O Lord, doth make me to dwell in safety.

31:58 See, again, he says, not only do I have joy that God has given me, but I have peace and I can go to sleep. Why? Can I just fall asleep? Because God's the one who protects me, keeps me safe. So it's not an assassin's bullet that's gonna kill me.

32:15 It's not the COVID. It's God's will. When he says my time's up, my time's up. I could be five years old. I could be 20 years old.

32:23 I could be 40 years old. I could be 80 years old when God says. Because it's written in his book. And so David can say, look, I'm safe in his hands because he knows when he's gonna call me home. And the guy was secure.

32:42 And so the horse is prepared for battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. Proverbs twenty one thirty one. Okay. So let's conclude. Let's wrap this up, and let's make some practical applications.

33:27 And fourth, trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord. Now if you do this, then you will have joy, peace, and security. You will be able to sleep. You will be able to sleep.

33:48 And so what what tremendous lessons then we find here. And don't forget that David requested that they not kill his son, that they not respond in anger. Of course, they didn't listen to him. But through all of this, he did not let anger get a hold of him and and he did not sin. Alright?

34:17 Alright. So let's pray. Father, what a tremendous Psalm, Psalm three and four that that you left for us as we see a man in a real circumstance that was terrifying. His own son and his good friend rebelling against him and saying lies about him and insulting him, dishonoring him. Yet, through all of this, he was able to say I have joy, I have peace, and I have security.

34:55 Lord, give that to us, please. Help us to trust you, And help us to sleep well tonight. Pray us in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you.