1 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 (Psalm 3)
One of the recent coup d’états that hit the African continent was staged by the Presidential guard¹. The person paid to protect the President plotted against him. This was perhaps his closest ally—a friend who became a foe, a complete betrayal of trust. Psalm 3 reflects something similar. But it is even worse. David, a king, in this Psalm is being pursued. His own son has staged a coup against him. The heading of Psalm 3 in my Bible reads : ‘A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.’
Here is a son revolting against his father to overthrow him from the throne. This betrayal is far more despicable than a Presidential guard staging a coup against a President. But all this pales in comparison to the worst revolt in human history—humanity’s rebellion against their Creator: (Romans 1:21). All human beings are rebels who will have nothing to do with God. Like Absalom, we have all revolted against God. We have kicked God out of our lives. But out of His mercy, God sent Jesus to redeem rebels such as we.
Threat of The Enemy
The events of Absalom’s revolt are recorded in detail in 2 Samuel 15:1–6, 12. It is out of It is while in flight that David wrote this Psalm. In this Psalm, we see David overwhelmed by the threat of the enemy. His faith in God is being mocked. Notice how he expresses the threat: “LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me. many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in God'” (vv. 1–2). His problems are rising and overwhelming.
Like David, we do get overwhelmed sometimes—if not often—by life challenges. It could be health, finances or a besetting sin we are dealing with. Then in the midst of all that, doubt sets in. The devil, the accuser of the brethren, is at your heel assailing you with unbelief. You can hear the accusation: “Many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in God'” (v 2)
David is being told God has forsaken him. God will not deliver him. He is being told he deserves whatever is happening to him (2 Samuel 16:5–8)
What did David do in the situation? He…
Turned to God in Prayer
Psalm 3 is a Psalm of Lament where we see David pour out his heart to God. “LORD,” the Psalm begins in v.1. That is a desperate cry to God for help. And see the number of times he appealed to God: “LORD” (v.1), “But you, O LORD” (v.3), “I cried aloud to the LORD” (v.4), “Arise O LORD, Save me…” (v.7). David cried out to the God who could save him. But David didn’t end at prayer—he continued in trust.
Trusted God in Prayer
In the midst of all his increasing problems, he trusted God. There is a remarkable contrast between vv. 1-2 and verse 3. In verse 1-2 David cries out about his pursuers. Then in verse 3, the language changes to trust: “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head…“ (v.3a).
A shield is a common biblical picture of protection. So, David is affirming that despite his pursuers, he trusts in God for protection. God indeed protects his own. He preserves his own. He is a shield to those who have put their trust in him. In his prayer and trust, David further encouraged himself in God: “my glory, and the lifter of my head” (v.3b). This is a language of encouragement. His head was bowed in shame. His enemies taunting him. But “David strengthened himself in the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6).
Whenever you find yourself in any overwhelming situation, do what David did: “encourage yourself in the Lord.” Don’t encourage yourself in your abilities or skills or wisdom. Rather, encourage yourself in the Lord—because…
God Answers Prayers
There is a reason David turned to God in prayer. There is a reason he trusted Him: because God answers prayer: “I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah” (v.4). David prayed, because God hears prayers and answers them. There are indeed many biblical promises of answered prayers (Psalm 50:15). Dear child of God, do not linger long in your problems. Call out to God in prayer.
Peace In Prayer
Now, when you have prayed, let go of your worries. David did that. Verses 5–6 paint a picture of peace and tranquillity for David. “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me” (v.5). In the midst of his enemies pursuing him, David can sleep. This is total peace and confidence in God. Do not lose sleep over your problems. Trust totally (Philippians 4:6-7).
By the time we get to verse 6, there appears a turn of events. Compare verse 6 with verses vv. 1- 2 where David laments his fears. In v.6 he expresses total confidence in God: “I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” What happened? David can now say this because he has committed everything to God in prayer. He is no more afraid. His fear of his enemies is gone.
Triumph In Prayer
As we near the end of the Chapter, verses 7-8 paint a picture of Triumph for David. David is triumphant. He calls on God to administer justice “Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked”. David did not take revenge. He left vengeance with God.
And finally, in contrast to the mockery of the enemies in v.2, “there is no salvation for him in God”. David pronounces his salvation in God in verse 8: “Salvation belongs to the Lord”.
Salvation indeed belongs to God and God can save us from the enemy. Now, our greatest enemy is sin. It is what has caused us to rebel against God. John tells us Jesus came to his own, but his own did not receive him(John 1:10). We are like Absalom, unwilling to submit to submit to the authority of our Father. So, we have rejected God’s authority. We have rejected his king—Jesus. We need to return to God through faith in Jesus.
Note
1 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34277989
