Psalm 3
Save Me, O My God
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son
1 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah
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So one of my small group leaders called me out on not actually putting my thoughts to words yesterday and so I’ll attempt to combine my thoughts into one blog entry. I was also kinda half joking today with some people that all of these Psalms have been very similar in their structure these past couple days. And to a certain extent it’s kinda true. But that’s also one of the amazing things about all of this. David went through so much in his life time and yet his faith never seemed to waver. There always seemed to be somebody out there trying to take his life and yet he is always able to have faith in God that He will provide. He’s still able to sleep at night and rest. One of the ways that is noticed in these passages is that he is able to draw back on his past experiences for comfort in God’s faithfulness. This is also something that has been so helpful for me to utilize as well. There are many moments in my life when I feel at a loss and it’s only when I look and think back to his previous faithfulness that I’m brought back to remember how faithful God truly is. God not only this but he also knows who God is in his character. Knowing of God’s sovereignty, “Salvation belongs to the Lord,” “I woke again for the Lord sustained me,” allows David to be able to “not be afraid” and “in peace … lie down and sleep.
I also need to learn how to preach to myself like it seems as if he’s doing to remind himself of God. As he is comforted by God’s faithfulness and character he’s able pretty much preach to his own soul. To “not sin” and “offer right sacrifices” and to what appears to be words of nightly meditation. In the midst of the craziness of life I don’t think I do this nearly enough. “ponder in your own hearts on your beds and be silent.” I’m always doing what I see in the beginning aspects of these Psalms and listing off to God what needs to be done. And then I’m too busy trying to think of ways to improve the situation or change things. I don’t take the time to just be still and listen. To focus on God and just “put your trust in the Lord.”.
The last aspect of these verses I want to focus on are “How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?” and “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound”. When looking from an outsiders perspective it could seem as if David has everything going against him and that his enemies are the ones that are blessed. David’s the one being persecuted and chased. David’s the one who is crying out for saving. When in actuality at the end of the day, David is the one filled with joy. David is the one who is abel to sleep in peace knowing that God is in full control and that he will wake again as long as the Lord desires and there is nothing that man can do to change that. I can too look at the worldly things and seek what this world tells me is joy and comfort in their abounding grains and wines. I need to continue to remind myself of the infinitely greater joy and comfort that is found in God. “The Lord has set apart the godly for himself…” Now live like it.
“I want to learn to pray
The way that David prayed
I want my soul to burn when I hear Your name
I want to feel like new
I want to hunger for you
Bring me back to life like only You can do
Cause I don’t want to stay the same
You told me
Look for You and I will find
So I’m here
Like I’m searching for the first time
Revive me, Jesus
Make this cold heart start to move
Help me rediscover You”
