As I have continued to read Psalms 4, I have repeatedly seen that David contrasts the life with God with life without God as preeminent. David talks about his wishes that he expresses to God. David shares his value of having God as the first priority in his life over having the pursuits of this world. Let’s see it.
6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
I will confess that we all have a desire to be prosperous. The question at hand is how do we define prosperity. It appears to me that David defines prosperity as a function of what God provides man and that which cannot be taken away in the face of that which can be taken away or not provided at all. The world is asking who will meet our needs? Who will give us our fill and more? David retorts by saying that may God let the light of His face shine on us. This is a clear reference to Numbers 6 where Jehovah, “the existing One”, desires to have the Israelites associated or connected with Him, where He conveys the priestly blessing to Moses. God desires to reveal who He is and who the people of God are to Him. The same is true for us. While we are looking for prosperity, the greatest riches are found in Jehovah calling us His own. Remember what David said about God in Psalms 3:4 “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. 4 I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.” God wants to bless us, and He is the blessing.
Next, David’s request is that Jehovah, “the existing One”, fill his heart with joy while the world, those outside of honoring Jehovah, wants their grain and new wine to abound. Those were signs of blessings as there was sufficient rain to cause the earth to bud and flourish, where their physical needs were amply met. In contrast, David asks God to fill his heart with joy or gladness. There is nothing like the joy of God in one’s life. When God fills our hearts with joy, we are immune to the things that deject and disappoint us in life. Those are numerous. This request is an appeal by David to live above circumstances. He wants a life not built on contingencies. Life is good if … scenarios. He just wants life to be good. With joy in his heart, life is good despite that which may not be pleasant. If you have read the Word of God, we know that there were many circumstances (Saul, Absalom, Uriah, Moabites, the Edomites, the Ammonites and the Arameans, finally pride) where David was challenged to have his heart filled with the joy of the Lord. Despite that, this is a proclamation from God through him that God wants to bless us, and He is the blessing.
Lastly, David prefers the peace and security offered by God rather than riches alone. David says “I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety”. It is God alone that can keep David and us safe. God kept David safe from Saul, Absalom, all the others who pursued him and from himself. Danger comes from many sources, but the greatest beyond evil himself is our own choices. God kept David from them all. God can keep us all from danger. The peace that comes from knowing God will keep us safe allowed David not to have a night where his anxiety prevented him from sleeping in peace as well as living in peace. David attributes that to God alone. David wants us to see that God wants to bless us, and He is the blessing.
Trust the Word of God and be blessed.