Listen up, little ones
Listen for the word sleep.
Reading
Psalm 3:5-6, Psalm 4:7-8—Sleeping in Peace
Optional Reading
Matt 26:38-39
Keys for kids
- Foes and troubles face everyone.
- Even so, we can wake up from sleep rested in our God.
- And we can go to sleep in peace because of our God’s care.
Questions
- How are Psalm 3 and 4 alike?
- How could the Psalmist sleep in peace?
- How could Jesus sleep in peace?
Notes
(See Saturday for authors.)
Psalms 3 and 4 have many connecting ideas. Foes (Ps 3:1) are related to the word for distress (Ps 4:1). Many are saying troubling things in both Ps 3:2 and 4:6. Glory (Ps 3:3) and honor (Ps 4:2) are the same word in Hebrew. Both Psalms also speak of sleep—specifically sleeping peacefully despite enemies and troubles. Wilcock points out that [in Psalm 3, David] sleeps and reawakens, [In Psalm 4] he lies down again to sleep, and the two psalms may be contrasted as a morning prayer and an evening one; but each is a cry to God which expects an answer.
Sometimes we may face foes. Sometimes we may have trouble sleeping. Jesus, too, faced many enemies. Yet, as Eveson reminds us, at no time was Jesus ruffled by the enemy. He could sleep any time, anywhere, even in a boat with a storm raging. After the enemies had done their worst, Jesus committed his spirit to his Father and awoke on the resurrection morning.
These two Psalms, and the confidence in the Lord of which David is certain, ought to be a comfort and encouragement to us. Jesus’s saving work ought to be even more of a comfort and encouragement. Because I am His, I can sleep in peace. When I wake up, I am still with Him and He with me.
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 121c, 65c
Prayer
- Ask God to give you peaceful sleep.
- Give thanks for something from last Lord’s Day’s sermons.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.