We are now in Tehilim 4,9
בְּשָׁל֣וֹם יַחְדָּו֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֢ה וְאִ֫ישָׁ֥ן כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֣ה לְבָדָ֑ד לָ֝בֶ֗טַח תּֽוֹשִׁיבֵֽנִי׃
In peaceful unity, I can lie down and sleep, for You, Hashem will make me dwell apart and secure.
What does that mean? The Rambam’s son, in his sefer Hamaspik L’Ovdei Hashem, in the chapter of bitachon, says that David Hamelech is teaching us that when a person puts in too much effort, too much exaggerated effort, it won’t help him. The only thing that helps success is help from Above. Those that are beloved by Hashem get what they need with nachat, with calmness, without being preoccupied, or they'll get it with just a bit of work.
He quotes our pasuk which says,
בְּשָׁל֣וֹם יַחְדָּו֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֢ה
I can go sleep calmly because I am relying on You. I don't need to overwork. He contrasts this to a pasuk in Tehilim 127, where it says,
If Hashem does not build a house, those that are trying to build it are wasting their time. If God does not protect a city, they're wasting their time.
It's a shame for the people that get up very early and go to sleep very late at night. These are the people, he says, that are trying to get what they want by overworking, getting up very early, working very late, eating very fast. They’re leaving out the key ingredient of Siyata Dishmaya.
He says, “If you'd be from the beloved ones, then, in the merit of your reliance on Him, you'd have to just do a little bit of effort. You'd be able to sleep in serenity, because it's true and steadfast.” Like we say in Keriat Shema, ‘It's true and steadfast,’ that “He gives those that are beloved to Him what they need, and above, without effort.” And what's the secret? “Because you rely on Him.”
What's his source? Our pasuk
בְּשָׁל֣וֹם יַחְדָּו֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֢ה וְאִ֫ישָׁ֥ן
I can sleep serenely at night because I'm relying on Hashem.
The Bnei Yissaschar, in his Maamar on Nissan, (4th Maamar) says that when Hashem took us out of Mitzrayim, He wanted to slaughter the sheep, which is the indication of the Mazalot, because if someone believes he's under Mazalot, then he's never free. However, we who believe that we're not under Mazal, we are free. What are we free from? We're free from that heavy, never-ending load of work. If you believe in nature, you have to get up early in the morning and you have to work until late at night. You have to keep chasing and chasing. You are a slave to your family, to your job.
Only the one who truly believes in Hashem’s Hashgacha is free.
He says that's the meaning of our pasuk. This man sleeps well at night because he believes that everything is from Hashem's supervision, and therefore he becomes the true free man.
This is always our litmus tests, says David Hamelech:
How do you sleep at night?
Have a wonderful day.