Finding Peace in Difficult Times – Lessons from Psalm 4
Jerusalem is behind him. The palace is no longer his home. The crown is on another’s head. And yet, the king is writing poetry.
Question:
“Your Majesty, may I interrupt you for just a moment? You seem to be on a roll. I noticed you writing with a smile on your face. Are you making an entry in your journal?”
Answer:
“As a matter of fact, I am. I enjoy poetry. It allows me to record my deepest thoughts—the musings of my heart. Would you like to read what I’ve just written—an exclusive preview before anyone else sees it?”
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
O sons of men, how long will my honour become a reproach?
How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah.
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;
Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And trust in the LORD.
Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
—Psalm 4:1–8
Question:
“Thank you for sharing that. I’m speechless. Are you actually writing songs at a time like this? Incredible! When you wrote about God relieving you in your distress, what did you mean? Were you saying you have actually been enlarged—that you’ve grown spiritually when the heat was on, and the pressure was intense? Usually, when something is under pressure, it’s compressed—not expanded. When metal is hammered, it flattens. But when a believer is pressed, he deepens?
Answer:
“You are perceptive indeed. When I wrote to the Lord, ‘You have relieved me in my distress,’ I was thinking of being enlarged. I have grown most in my relationship with the Lord during times just like these. I’ve known the sweetness of His presence when everything else was against me. It’s as though the Lord draws me closer to Himself each time I pass through such trials. He sets me further apart from the godless world around me and draws me nearer to Himself.”
Question:
“Your Majesty, may I ask one or two more questions? I noticed in your poem your strong emphasis on trusting the Lord. Given everything that’s happened, do you still trust Him? I mean, your own son, Absalom, is leading a rebellion against you. Your most trusted counsellor, Ahithophel, has deserted you and joined Absalom’s cause. The masses are singing Absalom’s praises. He has taken the crown. You have been driven from the palace. You’re not on the throne—you’re on the run. And you still trust Him?”
Answer:
“Absolutely! Others I cannot trust. Men will betray you and let you down—but not the Lord! I do not derive my joy from my circumstances. Those who have no relationship with the Lord find their joy when their grain harvest is plentiful or their vineyards overflow. But my joy is not something I produce or manufacture. The Lord places gladness in my heart—and let me tell you, nothing compares to the joy He gives. I can lie down and sleep in peace because I know the Lord is caring for me.”
“That’s what I call real joy. Thank you for the interview.”
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NASB
Centuries later, another servant of the Lord would write from confinement rather than a palace, urging believers, “Be anxious for nothing…” The king on the run and the apostle in prison discovered the same secret: prayer instead of panic, trust instead of turmoil, and peace instead of pressure. David lay down and slept because the Lord made him dwell in safety. Paul spoke of a peace that guards the heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Thrones may totter and fall. Circumstances may crash and collapse. But the heart that calls on the Lord in distress can still rest in Him. That is enlargement in trouble. That is joy placed within. That is peace that keeps watch while we sleep.
You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you. Trust in the LORD forever, because in the LORD, the LORD himself, is an everlasting rock! Isaiah 26:3-4 CSB