Psalm 3 - A Shield Against Foes!!!
Here is the third instalment of the 'Journey Through the Psalms', in it we will look at Psalm 3. Psalm 3 may feel familiar with many of us. Especially those of us who have faced adversity from others, be it people in our community, workplace, employers, schools, or even members of our church (including church leadership). There are times and seasons in our lives when people seem to line up to attack us, our families and the purpose God has for our lives.
Psalm 3 is a psalm of King David, it was written at a time when he was fleeing from family turmoil, and his own son trying to de-throne him. As such, it is a psalm of despair and and of hope - it is a psalm of fear and of faith. It is an interesting psalm that ebbs and flows between the pain of King David's lived circumstances, and his unswerving faith in Yahweh. In that way it is very a very human psalm, one that we find reassuring familiar...one that almost echoes our own prayers during times of trouble.
Psalm 3: A Psalm of David...
Verses 1-2: "Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!, many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me,“There is no help for him in God.” Selah"
One of the questions many of us ask of ourselves during times of adversity is - "Why are there so many against me?" - it is a common question. When things go wrong, they often seem to pile up. When people are attacking us, it seems as if there is a line of people waiting to take their turn. King David shows his humanity when he asks the same thing.
It's not sinful to state how we feel about a situation, or the gravity of it bearing down on us. David does it over and over again in his psalms. When we do it in times of prayer, then it acts as a petition before God. God already knows what we need and what we are going through, but what it does is enable us to lay everything at His feet and allow Him to go to work for our sakes.
King David is feeling the weight of his adversity...and he hears what those adversaries are saying about him. Including the taunts that God will not help him - this leads King David to speak directly to his faith in Yahweh. How often do those who oppose us taunt us - be they believers or unbelievers? Jesus said that because of our faith in Him, taunts and opposition will be the norm for believers. Get used to it...but also give it to God, don't let it eat you up inside.
Verses 3-5: "But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah - I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me."
David begins this second part of his psalm with a bold and faith-filled declaration, when he says that God is his shield. A shield protects a soldier from thrusts of spears and swords, and from flying arrows. It is predominantly a defensive tool. Thus, if God - who is greater than anything that is in this physical world and in the heavenly realm - is our shield, then surely he is able to protect us from things, and people, who seek to bring us down. God is spoken of as a shield many times by David (see 2 Samuel 22:3, Psalm 7:10, 18:2, 119:114)
David then takes his faith up a notch or two when he acknowledges his despair, pain and depression - because you can't lift a head unless it is hanging low, and bent down - but David acknowledges that yahweh lifts his head. Meaning that God gives us encouragement and strength to endure the events of life that drag us down.
Why did Yahweh lift his head??? - Because He heard David's prayers and cries of despair. This took David acknowledging that he could not fix the situation that he was in, nor could he make a way out of it, but rather, it was only Yahweh who could save him in his time of trouble and adversity. Again the concept of crying out to God is one often used by David (see Psalm 18:6, 31:22, 40:1).
It is interesting to note that this is not a whispered prayer said in passing...but rather a heartfelt cry of a person's heart and soul, because they are in emotional and spiritual pain. God can handle you being brutally honest with Him...so let it out.
David also acknowledges that Yahweh has a presence in the land, that there is a place where the presence of God could be found...and God hears the prayers and pleas of his people.
In that moment of calling out to the Lord, and the encouragement that David got from the Lord - God sustains him. God can sustain us, even when our physical and emotional abilities are diminished - when the effects of the constant battles that exist in our lives get too much for us to carry. Salvation is not God lifting us out of our situations, but helping us through them.
Verses 6-7: I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly."
King David continues with his statements of faith, but goes on to add details that show the power, sovereignty of God in action.
Firstly, he states that he won't be afraid of the multitude of enemies that are arrayed against him. Setting aside fear enables David to take a stand, and find strength and comfort in the knowledge that God will help him.
We should not let fear stifle us, or hinder our ability to do what God has called us into. The Bible is pretty clear about how believers and followers of God should treat fear in their lives (see 2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 40:10).
Then David returns to the cries of his heart....he cries out for the Lord to save him from destruction.
But he turns that cry of desperation into a shout of victory, as he knows that Yahweh, The Lord of Lords, and King of Kings will....WILL...act on our behalf. King David is brutally honest about what God would do to his enemies. he will not only stop them but he will do so violently, and humiliate them.
Perhaps this is why the Bible mentions that we should leave revenge and retribution to the Lord (see Romans 12:19). This is even more so relevant when Jesus returns to rule all the world.
Verse 8: "Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah"
It is interesting to note that King David turns what is an intensely personal psalm into one that encompasses the people of his kingdom.
David acknowledges that salvation, true salvation can only come from the Lord. It cannot come from other people, or from other nations, or from institutions.
Yahweh, is the only source of our salvation - and it is a supreme blessing for all people who wish to seek it out, and find it. (see Exodus 15:4, Psalm 25:5, Isaiah 25:9, Micah 7:7, Luke 3:6, Acts 28:8)
Here is something to ponder???
What enabled King David to have such a strong faith???
Well the answer is simple....he worshipped Yahweh and was intimate with God's spirit and knew his voice. If we get to a place where we truly worship God, as the sovereign of our lives. King David knew that God was with him, and would hear his prayers and cries for salvation, and that Yahweh will act.
Why??? Because he truly had a relationship with God.
In this life, we will have many troubles and trials. We will face adversity...that is a given. But how we respond to it depends on the strength of our faith, and our relationship with Yahweh. We worship like David worshishipped, we draw close to God like David did. We also need to consider if our strength weak, where we question everything God does (or seemingly doesn't do) and whine like spoilt children when we don't get it our way. Or is our faith strong...where in the midst of tens of thousands of enemies, we can stand and declare that God not only hears our prayers, but will act for our favour.
I pray that Yahweh is your shield, that He protect you from the myriad of things that may arise against you. May the times of adversity build your faith in Him, and Him alone. May you cry out to Him and believe that he hears your prayers and requests. May Your faith be strengthened and may God's protection be upon you and your family.
Written Jan 8th 2023…