Our Daily Bread: Peace to YouSýnishorn

Sleep Stealers

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. -Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

After Ambrose (AD 340–397) became bishop of Milan, he introduced a new kind of music to the church that borrowed from Eastern styles. Some folks didn’t approve of this “radical” development, but the new form took hold. Several of Ambrose’s hymns survive to this day. A translation of one of them, “Before the Ending of the Day,” says:

From all ill dreams defend our eyes

From nightly fears and fantasies.

Such things threaten the rest God intends for us, so Ambrose’s hymn appeals to God to protect us even as we sleep.

In Psalm 4, King David addresses the concept of sleep in spite of fears. It may have been while fleeing for his life that David cried out to God, “Give me relief from my distress” (v. 1 NIV). After this deeply personal plea, David turned from himself and toward his hearers. “When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent,” he urged (v. 4). Doing so places the focus on God and not on our fears, which naturally led to David’s conclusion: “In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (v. 8).

These ancient songs—David’s and Ambrose’s—uplift the peace-giving response to whatever threatens us. Before the end of the day, share your concerns and fears with God. We can leave them all with Him.

By Tim Gustafson

What threatens your sleep? How can you give your worries to God at the end of the day?

Father in heaven, thank You for rest. Help me give You my fears and problems and rest in You as I go to sleep.