Psalms 4:8

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep,.... Signifying, that he had such a calmness and serenity of mind, amidst all his troubles, that he could not only lay himself down in great peace, and

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. Both , [ yachad (H3162)] - rather, 'at once' So soon as I lie down I shall go to sleep. Sleep , [ 'iyshaan (H3462)] 'go to sleep' (cf.

Both: this word relates to the two following verbs; as soon as I am laid down, I will quietly compose myself to sleep; whereas many lie down upon their beds, and cannot sleep through distracting cares or troubles. Or, in like manner, i.e. as they do who have abundance of corn and wine, of whom he last spoke, . In peace; either, 1. In outward peace or safety, as the next clause explains it. Or, 2. In inward peace or tranquillity of mind, as , resting securely upon God’ s promises, and the conduct of his wise and gracious providence. Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety; I owe not my safety to my own valour or wisdom, nor to the courage of my followers, but to thee only. Or, thou, Lord, makest me to dwell alone in safety; either, 1. Alone, or apart from mine enemies: compare . Or rather, 2. Though I be in a manner alone, i.e. forsaken and destitute of friends or helpers, as that word is used, .

Psalms 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.Ver. 8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep] Heb. In peace together will I lie down and sleep; that is, saith the Syriac interpreter, Non solum cubabo sed etiam dormiam, I will not only lie down, but also sleep; which many cannot do for fears and cares, those gnats that keep them waking. The Arabic hath it, I sleep as securely in adversity as those can that are in prosperity. Others thus, I will lay me down together with the joy before spoken of, and confidence in God; this shall be my bed fellow; and then I am sure to rest sweetly and safely. For, Thou, Lord, only makest, thou settest me in safety, thou givest to thy beloved sleep, Psalms 127:2; that is, extraordinary quiet refreshing sleep, as the learned note upon the Aleph quiescent in שׁáà which is not usual.

(8) Both.—Better, and at once. So the LXX. and Vulg.: “At the very moment.” (Comp. Isaiah 42:14.) This, too, is the meaning of “withal,” used to render the same Hebrew word in Psalms 141:10. Thou, Lord, only.—The authority of all the ancient Versions, including the LXX. and Vulg., is for taking the adverb with the predicate, not with the subject as in the Authorised Version: “Thou, Jehovah, makest me to dwell alone in safety.” We see from Jeremiah 49:31, Micah 7:14, that isolation from other nations was, in the Hebrew view, a guarantee against danger. This certainly favours the view that the poem is national rather than individual. For the concluding verses of the psalm Luther had a great affection, and desired Ludvig Teuffel to set them as the words of a requiem for him.

Verse 8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep] Most men lie down, and most sleep, daily, for without rest and sleep life could not be preserved; but alas! how few lie down in peace! peace with their own consciences, and peace with God! David had then two great blessings, rest by sleep, and peace in his soul. He had a happy soul; and when he lay down on his bed, his body soon enjoyed its repose, as the conscience was in peace. And he had a third blessing, a confidence that he should sleep in safety. And it was so. No fearful dreams disturbed his repose, for he had a mind tranquillized by the peace of God. As to his body, that enjoyed its due rest, for he had not overloaded nature either with dainties or superfluities. Reader, are not many of thy sleepless hours to be attributed to thy disordered soul-to a sense of guilt on thy conscience, or to a fear of death and hell? Pray incessantly till thou get the light of God's countenance, till his Spirit bear witness with thine that thou art a child of God. Then thy repose will do thee good: and even in thy sleep thy happy soul will be getting forward to heaven. ANALYSIS OF THE FOURTH PSALM There are THREE parts in this Psalm: - I. An entrance, or petition for audience, Psalms 4:1. II. An apostrophe to his enemies, which is, 1. Reprehensive, Psalms 4:2-3. 2. Admonitory, Psalms 4:4-5. III. A petition for himself and God's people, Psalms 4:6-8. I. He proposes his request and suit for audience. "Hear me when I call;" and this he founds on four arguments: 1. God has promised to hear me when I call: "Call upon me in trouble, and I will hear thee." I call; hear me, therefore, when I call. 2. His own innocence: "Hear me, O God of my righteousness." 3. He requests no more than what God had done for him at other times: Thou hast enlarged me in trouble, and why not now? 4. It was mercy and favour to answer him then; it will be the same to do it again: "Have mercy on me, and hear." II. His petition being thus proposed and ended, he proceeds to the doctrinal part; and, turning himself to his enemies, 1. He sharply reproves them; 2. Then warns them, and gives them good counsel. 1. He turns his speech from God to men; the chief but the worst of men. beney ish, "ye eminent men." Not plebeians, but nobles. The charge he lays to them, 1. They "turned his glory into shame." They endeavoured to dishonour him whom God had called and anointed to the kingdom. 2. "They loved vanity." A vain attempt they were in love with. 3. "They sought after falsity." They pursued that which would deceive them; they would find at last that treachery and iniquity lied to itself. 4.

8. In peace will I lay me down and sleep at once: no fears or anxieties delaying slumber. In Psalms 3:5 he recorded his experience: here he gives expression to the trust which sprang from it. for thou Lord, only] For it is thou, Lord, alone, who &c. This exquisite expression of absolute confidence, the rhythm of which in the original is as reposeful as the thought, gives an excellent sense in connexion with the context. ‘Many’ had declared that he was abandoned by God as well as man (Psalms 3:2), but in unshaken faith he claims Jehovah as his sole protector, beside whom he needs no other. But the word rendered ‘alone’ elsewhere means apart, when joined with verbs denoting dwelling. Thus it is used of Israel, isolated and separate from the nations, in Numbers 23:9; and in Deuteronomy 33:28; Jeremiah 49:31, it is combined with the word here rendered ‘in safety’. So probably the meaning is, ‘It is Thou, Lord, who makest me dwell apart in safety:’ isolated from my foes in Thy safe keeping. Hence R.V. marg. gives, in solitude.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep - The word “both” here means “at the same time;” that is, I will alike be in peace, and I will lie down and will sleep; I will have a mind at peace (or, in

8. I will… lay me down in peace—The highest sensible evidence of a composed faith. It is fit that this sweet evening psalm should close with a sweet good night. See Psalms 127:2.