Thankful: Praising God Through the PsalmsSample

Psalms 3-4 - Lament

Literary Context

After the grand promises set forth in Psalms 1 and 2, Psalms 3 and 4 give voice to the feeling that God is failing to act in accordance with them. This is lament. These types of psalms are heartfelt cries to God in the midst of suffering and loss. Laments typically fall into two categories: (1) individual laments, which are prayers for God’s help through personal trials, and (2) communal laments, which reflect the distress of an entire community. Most laments include elements of trust and praise in the midst of the present difficulty, with Psalm 88 being the notable exception.

Reflection

Both Psalms 3 and 4 are Psalms of David. And the title that appears with Psalm 3 even tells us what was happening to David when he felt what he wrote about there (see 2 Samuel 15 for the full story).

In these two psalms, David expresses to God his painful reality:

- He has many enemies rising against him (Psalm 3:1, 6)

- It looks like God has abandoned him (Psalm 3:2)

- His troubles have been going on for a long time, and he doesn’t know how much longer they will continue (Psalm 4:2)

And yet, in the midst of this trial, David also names the ways that God is sustaining him. In these psalms, he is especially attentive to the way God does this in and through sleep (Psalm 3:5; 4:8). In order to have a good sleep, a person must relinquish any attempts to maintain constant vigilance. Embracing sleep involves acceptance of limitation and surrender to the need for God’s care and provision. This is not easy to do, especially in seasons when it feels like God has abandoned you.

Response

Are you in the midst of a painful reality? What is it? If you were 100% honest, what would you say to God at this time? What questions would you ask him?

What are your current sleeping patterns? How might God want to sustain you during this time through sleep?

For further reading:

• Psalm 13
• Psalm 42-43
• Psalm 123