In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah (Psalm 4:4)
Psalm 4 is a good “nighttime psalm.” It basically tells us what to do each night when we go to bed, particularly if we are emotionally distraught or upset. What did David (the writer of the psalm) do each night?
- He prayed and called out to God (4:1-3).
- He evaluated his emotional state and dealt with any anger before going to sleep (4:4).
- He reaffirmed his faith in God and reminded himself of God’s joy and protection (4:5-8).
It was this second point that caught my attention. So often we are afraid to even feel our emotions much less evaluate them. David was an emotional man. You can’t read the psalms and not see David’s emotions. He experienced the full spectrum–from extreme despair to exuberant praise.
In this psalm, David had to deal with anxiety and anger. He was under attack from others and feeling the pressures of life. His heart was not at peace. Like Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:5, David could say, This body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn–conflicts outside, fears within.
How do you sleep under such great stress? David said, “In your anger, do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” David recommended taking an “emotional inventory.”
Search your heart. Why are you so upset? What are you focusing upon? What are you trusting in? Be silent. Quiet your heart. Stop fighting. Cry out to God and then allow Him to speak to you. Selah. This is a Hebrew term meaning, “Stop and contemplate.” Take a deep breath. Relax. Refocus. Release your grip. Let go of your need to control. Reaffirm your faith in God. Rest in Him.
This psalm was obviously a favorite of Paul’s too. He quotes it in Ephesians 4:26-27, “In your anger do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold.” Don’t go to bed angry or in emotional distress. Clean the slates. Forgive. Reconcile if need be. Let go. Trust.
Of course, this is not easy. It takes discipline and practice. Some nights the mind just won’t quiet down. Our grip seems locked. Our heart seems out of control. Such nights require lots of praying, pleading, and wrestling with God. Such nights also require us to really search our hearts to find out what is so hard for us to let go of. What are we holding onto? What do we think we can’t live without? What “idol in our heart” is threatened? What area of our life are we unwilling to give over to God?
In the end, when we learn the discipline of resting in God and casting all our care upon Him, we can say with David, You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety (4:7-8).
Lord, give me peace of heart. Open my eyes to see areas of my life that I have not given over to You. Deliver me from anger and anxiety and help me to rest in You.