The Sunday of the Transfiguration (Ps) February 19th

Psalm 4:1-8
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”
7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ps 4:1–8). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

We offer proper sacrifices to the LORD our God. He is the one who shines light into the World. In Revelation, St John notices that the only light in the new Jerusalem is Jesus Christ. Jesus calls himself the Light of the World. But my favorite part of this psalm is being able to lie down and sleep.

Most of us struggle with sleeping problems. Some of us are tired all day long. Others are can not get to sleep at night. Some of the older crowd may find themselves sleeping constantly. A lot of people struggle with sleep because they are anxious about their life. Other people suffer from sleep lose because they are busy doing various activities. The busy world around us makes getting a good nights sleep impossible.

But the psalmist writes, "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." In God's hands we can put all our anxieties. God is the one who takes care of our bodies. God is our Heavenly Father who takes care of his People. God is the one who enlightens our darkness. God is the one who protects us from our enemies. God gives us his righteousness and makes us new. In him we can pray our anxieties away and slumber.