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Sweet and Peaceful Sleep

Psalm 4:8

    If you see the enemy coming toward you, you can rise up and flee. Or if you hear his threats, you can call on others to come to your aid to protect you. But if he comes while you are asleep, you are in mortal danger.

    And yet David says in Psalm 4:8, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." Our sleep, with such an almighty, everywhere present, and faithful God, will be sure and absolutely safe. Not only is it true that He is more powerful than all our enemies, but His enemies depend upon Him for every heartbeat. He knows to the smallest detail all their thoughts, plans, and desires.

    Can you then not see why we should and can sing (PRC Psalter)?

    In God's love abiding,
    I have joy and peace
    More than all the wicked,
    Though their wealth increase.
    In His care confiding, 
    I will sweetly sleep,
    For the Lord, my Savior, 
    Will in safety keep.

    Take hold of this truth that He will keep you safe. Not only is He the almighty God, Who is always right next to us and in us. But He is our Savior Who, through the blood of His Son, blotted out all our guilt and is preparing a place for us in His house of many mansions.

    Take hold of those words of the versification: "In God's love abiding, I have joy and peace." He loves us as Christ's cross clearly shows. And because He loves us, we can be sure that He will not allow anything to happen to us that would keep us from reaching His house and from enjoying all its blessings.

    Dreadful, painful days are coming. There is an enemy that is ready to strike us. Paul calls him the last enemy to be destroyed, namely, death (I Cor.15:26). And the antichrist is also scheduled to come soon.

    But put your trust in God. In Him and in His care confiding you can have joy and peace. What happens to you will serve bringing you to the glory of God's kingdom.

Read: Psalm 3 
Psalter versification: #7:3
(Words and Music of the Psalter)

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Song for Meditation: Psalter #306
Why not sing along??

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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Ezekiel 35 ; Ezekiel 36:1-38 
James 1:1-18 
Psalm 116:1-19 
Proverbs 27:23-27

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Quote for Reflection:"

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be."  --Thomas a' Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ

Last modified on 17 November 2018

Additional Info

  • Date: 17-November
Heys, John A.

Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941.  He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955.  In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church.  He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967.  He retired from the active ministry in 1980.  He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.