Psalm 3 is a song of David, written during a time of great personal crisis. His son, Absalom, had rebelled against him and taken over the kingdom. David was forced to flee for his life, and he was in great danger.
In the midst of this crisis, David turned to God in prayer. He poured out his heart to God, expressing his fear and his trust. He reminded God of His faithfulness in the past, and he asked for God's help in the present. We ought also to remind ourselves of God's faithfulness to us. This 'remembering' increases our faith.
In verse 2 we hear David say this:
"Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.”
Don't many people around us today see us suffering or see us going through great financial difficulties or the loss of a loved one, and say to themselves, "Where is God?" or "God can't help you, you have to help yourself." But David says otherwise.
"But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head." Psalm 3:3
David had a deep and intimate relationship with God. He trusted God to protect him, to save him, and to deliver him from his enemies.
David's glory was in God. Today we are tempted to find our glory in many things, such as beauty, achievements, children, career, and relationships. However, these things are all temporary and can be taken away from us. God, on the other hand, is eternal and unchanging. He is the only one who can truly give us lasting glory.
God is our glory because it means that our worth and value are not dependent on anything we do or achieve. We are valuable because God loves us, and He loves us unconditionally.
"I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me." Psalm 3:5
David was able to sleep in the midst of such dire circumstances because he had faith in God. David knew that God was with him and that He would protect him. We can learn from David's example that we can have peace and rest, even in the midst of difficult times, if we trust in God.
In the New Testament, Paul sounds much like David. In Romans 8:31 we read this:
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
As David remarked when he came against Goliath in I Samuel 17: 45, "Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." With God on our side, when we come to a fight in the name of the Lord, we can know that no one can stand against us.
Philippians 4: 6-7 says this:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Our anxiety is a symptom of a lack of faith. God does not suggest for us to not be anxious, he does not ask us to not be anxious, he commands us to not be anxious. And we don't just ask God for things, we give thanks for His mercy and faithfulness to us in the past and His mercy and faithfulness in the future; even in a future that may seem dark and frightening. As David trusted God completely to be his Overcomer so should we.
And in I Peter 5: 6-7 Peter tells us:
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
In our own strength it is difficult to face hardship, anxiety and worry. We humble ourself by acknowledging that God is in control, not us. We humble ourself by accepting God's "due time" and not trying to rush an answer by pretending to be in control. We don't have to be anxious because we know He truly cares for us. We can give our worries and cares to Him.
We can say with David that God "is the One who lifts up my head" when all seems lost.
Enjoy this beautiful song of Psalm 3. Click here.
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