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. In great danger, David was forced to flee for his life.
David's Crisis and Turning to God
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.
Trust in God's Faithfulness Amid Doubt
In verse 2 David says that many people will say of him that, "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.
God: Our Shield and Source of Glory
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.
Finding Peace in the Midst of Troubles
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. We can trust God like David did. David could still sleep in the midst of his troubles because David says "the Lord sustained me." David slept in the midst of such dire circumstances because he had faith in God. David knew that God was with him and 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.
God's Power in Our Battles
In the New Testament, Paul sounds much like David. In Romans 8:31, Paul tells us that, "if God is for us, who can be against us?" Similarly, when David came against Goliath in I Samuel 17: 45, he said, “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.
Anxiety and God's Command for Peace
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 and worry are 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.
Humbling Ourselves Before God's Timing
And in I Peter 5: 6-7 Peter tells us to humble ourselves before God so He "may exalt you in due time". Peter says to cast our cares on God because God cares for us. In our own strength it is difficult to face hardship, anxiety and worry. In humility we acknowledge 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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