Psalm 3

There are so many things going on in my own life that are chaotic and troublesome. I have kids that are out of school for the summer, and they are bored. Lacking transportation has made this a boring summer for them. Also, this summer brings out the pests. I have a pest problem that I have been diligently trying to get under control that I just can’t seem to get under control. I have so many house projects that need to be done along with the daily grind of household chores that a household of six overwhelms me at times. And, since it is summer, I have a ton to keep up with in yard work. If that is not enough, I have relationships to maintain, events to attend, and studies to work on. And of course my number one priority of seeking God in everything. I feel like I don’t have enough time, energy, or resources to go around. It’s as though there is an army surrounding me on all fronts, and I feel like I can’t do anything about it. But then, God!

WE CAN CONFIDENTLY TRUST GOD.

In Psalm 3, there are only 8 verses, and yet we can learn some fundamental truths that can we can carry with us in our daily grind. It is a short Psalm that King David wrote while running for his life from his son, Absalom. You can read about that in 2 Samuel 15-18. Absalom rebelled against his father, David. He started a civil war in Israel in order to overthrow David and overtake his throne. He talked to others and persuaded them to support him while turning their backs on David. This is where David’s mindset was when he wrote this Psalm.

The first thing that David did was to cry out to God. He didn’t take matters into his own hands like he did with the scandal of him, Bathsheba, and Uriah. He didn’t try to launch an attack on Absalom, his own son. He sought the only One that could perfectly and rightly solve problems in his life. He sought God. We can confidently trust God.

WE CAN CONFIDENTLY TRUST GOD TO SEE US. (Psalm 3:1-2)

"O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, 'There is no salvations for him in God.'" (Ps. 3:1-2 ESV)

David first knew that he was seen by God. God saw what David was going through. He saw how people were bringing up his past, and they were saying, “See. All that stuff you did with Bathsheba and Uriah brought this about. God is not going to help you. This is for all that stuff you did.” But instead of responding to these people, and saying, “God is with me. He forgave me of those things. He helps me even when I can’t help myself.” Instead of entertaining the people with a counter argument, He continues to seek God, and he speaks the truth of God. He holds onto that truth. God sees him. And He sees us.

WE CAN CONFIDENTLY TRUST GOD TO PROTECT US. (Psalm 3:3)

"But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head." (Ps. 3:3 ESV)

David sees that he can cry out to God and that he sees that he is protected. God is a “shield” around him. Remember, there are thousands of people around him, against him, including his own son. He is heart-broken and betrayed. He is down-hearted. When you are down-hearted, how do you tend to walk around? With your head up and forward, or looking down at the ground? David holds on to the truth of God in confidence that God is his glory, his focus. And he says that God is the “lifter of my head”. I can imagine God gently putting a hand under David’s down turned chin, raising David’s face up to look into his eyes, and telling him, “I’ve got this. Don’t worry. Don’t look defeated. I will protect you. You can trust Me.” David trusts God to protect him. And He protects us.

WE CAN CONFIDENTLY TRUST GOD TO HEAR US. (Psalm 3:4)

"I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill." (Ps. 3:4 ESV)

David cried out to God. Not only did he cry out in his heart, in his soul, but he cried out aloud, verbally. There are times when we are distraught, and we pray to God silently in our hearts. But there is something to be said about verbalizing our thoughts and prayers. There is something tangible like a shift in our attitude and countenance. It’s like our heart is heard when we hear it ourselves. David spoke aloud, and God heard him “from his holy hill.” David is speaking poetically here referring to Mount Zion. God is not confined to this place. He is with us everywhere. But in the Old Testament, God was especially present with His people here. We can cry out to God, and He will hear us.

WE CAN CONFIDENTLY TRUST GOD FOR PEACE. (Psalm 3:5-6)

"I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around." (Ps. 3:5-6 ESV)

David saw that there were so many people around him. He had so much stress. He had so many decisions to make. He was still king. He was still leading Israel. He was still interceding on their behalf. But he was being bombarded by opposition all around him. In all of this, God gave him peace. David was able to sleep knowing that God was with him. And he recognized God’s blessing as he was able to wake up. God protected him in his peaceful sleep. When you are worried and overwhelmed, is it easy for you to go to sleep? Or do you end up falling asleep from sheer exhaustion only to wake up worried and anxious again? I understand. There are times when I forget that God is in control of everything. I forget all that God has done proving His trustworthiness. David trusts that in all of this intense pressure he does not need to be afraid. The pressure lifts when we set our hearts and focus on God’s power rather than others or our own. We can confidently trust God.

WE CAN CONFIDENTLY TRUST GOD FOR SALVATION. (Psalm 3:7-8)

"Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessings be on your people!" (Ps. 3:7-8 ESV)

Now, David asks God to save him from all of his opposition that includes those in his own family. Some of the people closest to him betrayed him and turned their backs on him. Most of us as some point in our lives have been betrayed by someone close to us, whether it be a relative, a coworker, or a close friend. And in those moments of hurt, we seek God to respond on our behalf. David could trust God to work in his situation. He remembered what God has done in the past. God has proven His trustworthiness in so many situations in the past with Egypt, the various tribes in the wilderness, the various tribes when obtaining their promised land, and every other circumstance they have faced.

God has worked in the past, works in the present, and will continue to work into the future. He does not change. He is faithful and true. His steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 136). The meaning of steadfast is strong devotion or loyalty to a person, belief, or cause. It is unchanging, firmly fixed in place, immovable, and not subject to change. This word is used to describe God’s love for us; an unchanging love that reveals His character. The entire Bible shows that God is steadfast to His people. He is steadfast to righteousness. And David remembers God’s character traits, chief of which is steadfastness.

When we remember God’s character and His track record, we can have confidence in Him. We can trust Him to see us in our situations, to protect us, to hear us, to give us peace, and ultimately to save us. We can confidently trust God.

Gotta go fill up my cup…..