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. (Ps. 4:7 ESV)
In the ancient world, abundant grain and wine were signs of prosperity. The man who possessed flocks of animals, fields to grow his crops, and vineyards had everything he needed to live in financial security. Such a person could afford the luxury of resting on his laurels, saying, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” In the modern world, we are no different. Although, we do not compare the size of our barns, we compare the size of our bank accounts. Although we might not have the space to plant vineyards, we envy those who can afford to pass leisurely days sipping margaritas on white-sand Caribbean beaches.
Yet, the Psalmist here says, that though his contemporaries might possess all the happiness that the wealth of this world can purchase, he is still richer than them by far! For the one who knows that their prayers are heard by God and has experienced his relief in times of distress (Ps 4:1), possesses an unshakable, divine joy in their heart that enriches not the pocketbook but the soul. No famine, drought, or economic disaster can ever rob those whose trust is in the Lord.
Old age might leave you mute and unable to speak to those whom you love, but the God of our righteousness can hear even the heart pleas of the silent tongue. A market crash might wipe out all of your hard-earned wealth, but nothing in this world can ever bankrupt the heavenly treasury where no moth destroys nor thieves enter. An unexpected, withering frost might kill the young and tender shoots and buds of the grapevine, but no earthly storm of life can ever harm the true Vine who nourishes us who are his branches. Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor anything else in all of creation will ever be able to separate us from our Master. Whether we dive into the depths of financial ruin or are soaring in the clouds of success—our Lord and Saviour is there.
Never will we go hungry for meaning life or purpose in life if our food is do the will of our Master. The one who has eaten the flesh of the Son of Man and drunk deeply of his precious blood that alone can cleanse us from our sins will always have deep-rooted joy that no amount of money or earthly love can buy. Our live are hidden with Christ and the one who has Christ for his treasure has complete, fullness of joy and unimaginable pleasures forevermore.
Believer, do you believe that Jesus Christ is not just a tool to accomplish your salvation but the treasure of your heart? Do you covet the wealth of your neighbours whose grain and wine abound and forget that with God you have infinitely more reason to rejoice than they do? For on the last day, the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved (2 Pet 3:10), but for those of us who belong to God, we will inherit the New Heavens and Earth.
Joy that is derived from investments in the food, drink and pleasures of this earth will one day leave you completely bankrupt. But joy that flows from the eternal spring that is found in the person of Jesus Christ, will never run dry, but will only increase throughout all eternity. It is the only investment whose yield is never negative and whose rate of return is guaranteed forever. You may have the strongest locks in the world, the safest investment vehicle, and the finest medical team at your disposal, but no amount of security, wealth, or medical knowledge can ultimately protect your life from the effects of early-onset Alzheimer’s or the ravages of stage four cancer.
Only when your soul is safe in the arms of Christ can you lay your head down on the pillow at night in perfect peace and say, “If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's” (Rom 14:8). So, rest well each night, believer, knowing that when you put your head on your pillow, that it is your Lord who loves you and saved you by dying on the cross for you, who alone makes you dwell in safety.
The sweetest sleep cannot be purchased with all the money in the world, but only with the precious blood of Christ.
Article by: Samuel Chua
