sleep - part 2

Psalm 4

In many ways this psalm seems like it could be an extension of Psalm 3. Psalm 4 is written by David. The occassion of his writing is not noted. David begins by addressing God with a plea to hear his prayer, then addresses the congregation with assurances that God will hear his prayer along with some instructions to appropriately fear the Lord and finally he addresses God again with a request to look on the nation, with favour.
There is again an emphasis on sleeping which indicates trust in God: I so firmly believe that God is in control that even in the face of many troubles and threats, I will sleep peacefully knowing that God will protect me and accomplish his purpose. David also instructs his audience to search their hearts and be silent when on their beds. I am not sure of the significance of that command.
The psalm seems to indicate that David's audience has doubts that God will hear David's prayer and possibly is ridiculing David for trusting in God. David points out that it was God who sanctified him for the throne. I don't know when in David's life he wrote this psalm but it is clear that David had a sense of being set apart for some service in the kingdom.
David asks that God would fill their his heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. This could possibly be that David is so confident that God will look on the nation with favour, which almost always meant prosperity, that he is looking forward to being filled with joy. However, the use of the word their makes me wonder if David is asking God to help him rejoice in the prosperity of his opposition. Because I am so individualistic in my mindset, I can barely rejoice in the prosperity of my brothers and sisters, let alone my opposers. I need God to transform my thinking from "me" to "we" so that I can truly rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.
I feel in some ways that God has blessed with me assurance today that his Spirit will be helping me in my sermon prep. I slept very well last night! I slept in a little bit but also very restfully. This should normally be the case. I don't need to fret. I don't need to stress. I can completely trust God because he is in control, he is good and he is loving. I pray for this assurance in my life. David isn't going to stress over the apparent drought. There is nothing he can do to make the crops grow except pray and once he's prayed, he sleeps. I wish I could remember in those times of stress that there are things that I can't do and rather than get all upset about those things, to trust God and, when it's appropriate, sleep.