Psalms 3
Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah Psalms 3:1-8 NKJV
God described David as “a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22). Psalm 3 is a great example for us to follow, so that we, too, can be men and women after God’s own heart. Here are some things to learn from this powerful writing of David:
1. David cried out to God when he was in trouble because he knew that God was the only One who could deliver him from his enemies (verses 1, 2, 7). This is precisely what God wants from us as well. He wants us to rely on Him and turn to Him whenever we need help or guidance. He wants us to cry out to Him when we are in distress so that He can be our source of comfort. He especially wants us to trust that He will hear our prayers and act on our behalf. “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears” (Psalm 18:6).
2. David did not listen to the words of discouragement being spoken against him (verses 2-4). Instead, he took the focus off of the problem itself and kept his focus on God. He expressed unwavering trust in God and complete confidence in His perfect justice. “For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them” (Isaiah 61:8).
3. David understood that God was the One who was able to lift him up when he was having difficulties in life (verse 3). When we face problems, there are various ways to react. We can choose to become discouraged, depressed and hopeless. We can also get angry, focusing on who we can blame and how much we are hurt or offended. We can work and struggle on our own, searching for the best solution within our own power. But God promises us so much more than all this! He wants us to look to Him for answers and to trust that He will handle the situation far better than we ever could. When crises arise in life, remember that God is in control, and He loves us and cares for us more than we can even imagine. Allow these truths to bring you peace and comfort when life is hard. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).
4. David was able to resist being overcome with fear and worry despite the fact that thousands of people were coming after him and he was in danger of losing his entire kingdom (verses 5-6). He did not allow anxiety to rob him of sleep or peace because his faith kept him confident in God’s unconquerable protection. The awesome news is that the same protection and peace that David enjoyed is available to us every day, no matter what we are facing. This is precisely why building our lives upon the solid foundation of Jesus Christ is so important!
The storms of life do not have to ruin us each time they blow through. We can stay focused on God and what He can do for us and through us. We can resist despair and helplessness. We can avoid letting ourselves be consumed with worry and fear. Jesus told us: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25).