Psalm 3 presents a hypothetical military situation that describes how David feels. He is in a situation, that sometimes is shown in classic heroism, where he is surrounded by fows on every side. They press in on him and want to engage him in hand-to-hand contact. The pressure is overwhelming. He needs a shield that is able to protect him on all sides, the only protection that can protect in every way is God.
It is faith in God that protects in the darkest of times, so they say. I have faith that is true, but sometimes it is hard to hold the shield. Sometimes it is hard to be protected by our God because we lack the faith. However, David was human like us. The pressure motivated him to cry out to God, and God showed up. I do have the ability to cry out.
Psalm 3
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.
1 LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”[b]
3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the LORD,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
7 Arise, LORD!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the LORD comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
Questions
- What are people saying to David?
- What image portrays the peace that God brings in trouble?
- Why do you think that God sustains David, but does not remove the trouble?
- What situations has God allowed for you that you would like him to remove?
- How does God grow and sustain us in difficult times?
Plymothian 