But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the Lord,
and He answered me from His holy hill.
Psalm 3:3-4
What brings us peace in the middle of storms, outbreaks or insurrections? Is it our nation’s armies, personal wealth, higher education, or faith in God? David, when he is in the middle of a big calamity in his life, puts his trust in God (Psalm 3:6). His cunning son, Absalom, leads an insurrection against him and captures Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15-18). The heartbreaking news that the people’s hearts are with Absalom causes David to flee for his life (2 Samuel 15:13). His love and compassion for his son and innocent people causes him to avoid conflict and loss of unnecessary lives.
Political intrigue follows with the taking over of his kingdom, and people condemn him saying “God will not deliver him.” (Psalm 3:2) When facing this calamity David seeks the Omnipotent God. He brings his fears and threats to God. David trusts that God is his shield, his glory and his confidence (Psalm 3:3). He is not afraid even though tens of thousands of people rise up against him (Psalm 3:6-7). His time to reflect and pray for guidance keeps his Kingdom at peace by avoiding direct conflict with his own son.
Psalm 3 is a reality check for the earlier Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 that speak of blessings of God’s people who delight in God’s word and find refuge in God. Here we find David’s family life divided by disharmony, jealousy and hatred because of his many wives and children. Is David anxious or scared? David remains confident that as God’s anointed, despite his mistakes, if he remains faithful God will guide Him and his Kingdom to the best outcome. The blessed assurance of answered prayer brings peace to David’s soul. He goes to sleep knowing that God loves him and is in control (Psalm 3:5).
Prayer: Lord our lives sometimes are overwhelmed with fears of illness, violence, failure, rejection,change and death. Fill us with confidence that you are in control and will protect us in times of trouble. Amen
Soli deo Gloria
2 comments:
It is the perfection of trust to be able to sleep when our foes are many and set upon our destruction.
So Jesus slept, Mark 4:38; and Peter, Acts 12:6.
Be sure that you are where God would have you to be, and then resign yourself to His loving care. Even though pursued by the results of your sins, you will find that God will save you, on condition of your being contrite.
Psalm 3:4. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
He means that he loved to pray alone, but to use his voice in prayer. I have heard many Christians say that they can pray better when they can hear their own voices; they are better able to collect their thoughts. The voice is not necessary to prayer. It is the mere body of prayer. Still, a right healthy body may help the soul, and sometimes the use of the voice may help the spirit. David says that he cried to God; and then it happened to him, as it always happens to us: “He heard me out of his holy hill.”
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