Most Recent

Praying the Psalms: Psalms 4

Jan 4, 2026    Pastor Jason Dirks

Psalm 4 offers us a profound roadmap for moving from distress to peace, from anxiety to rest. We discover David in one of the darkest moments of his life—betrayed by his own son Absalom, fleeing Jerusalem, publicly humiliated, and facing threats to his very existence. Yet remarkably, this psalm begins with confidence and ends with peaceful sleep. How does David make this journey? He starts by anchoring himself in the most fundamental truth: God is the source of his righteousness. We cannot earn our standing before God through good deeds or moral effort. Instead, righteousness comes through being joined to Christ, receiving His perfect life in place of our failures. When we frame our struggles within this gospel reality, everything changes. David then remembers God's past faithfulness, acknowledging the countless times God delivered him from impossible situations. But perhaps most powerfully, David refuses to nurse his anger or seek vengeance. Instead, he ponders these things in his heart, brings them before God, and then becomes silent—leaving justice in God's hands where it belongs. The psalm culminates in a revolutionary declaration: God provides more joy than all earthly prosperity combined. When our joy is rooted in the unchangeable, unstoppable God rather than circumstances, possessions, or human approval, we can genuinely lie down in peace no matter what storms rage around us. This ancient prayer becomes our prayer, teaching us to bring our whole selves—anger, fear, loss, and all—to the God who invites relentless coming to Him.