LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 3:3-6, But You, O Lord are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. 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.

King David’s is fleeing from his son, Absolom, who has sent an army of 12,000 men to kill his father. If you read verses 1-2 of this Psalm, you will read that few thought David had any chance of escape. Yet, King David does escape, like he has many times in the past, because of His trust in God. “But You, O Lord are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts my head.” King David acknowledges that even with the challenges he faces, the Lord is the ultimate One who protects him. His Lord is a “shield”, his divine protection from all that comes against him. Just as the warrior is protected from the arrows sent against him and from the swords swung in battle, so David sees the Lord protecting him from these enemies. I wonder if this is not a thought that goes back to the battle he had with Goliath as when David declared His God would deliver him from the one who taunted and defied God and the army of Israel.

David declared God was his “glory”, his true source of honor and all he did. Romans 8:16-17 declares that Believers are children of God, therefore, joint heirs with Christ and because of that our glory is firmly connected with our relationship with Christ. It is the Lord “who lifts our head” which means the Lord is there to lift Believers up, to encourage them when faced with difficulties and trials; His presence in the Believer’s life does encourage and help them rise above life’s problems as they walk the narrow way. The Lord’s presence needs to be a constant reminder of His love, that He cares very much and that He is faithful to His children.

Because of this knowledge, King David cried out to the Lord to once again deliver him from this circumstance. “’God’s holy hill’ refers to Jerusalem where God had made David king and where David had placed the ark; it was the earthly symbol His throne, His covenant (Psalm 2:6)” (David Jeremiah Study Bible). King David had cried out to the Lord before and been delivered from grave situations before by Him.

God still does this today! I have to often remind myself of Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of god, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” David’s prayer should be an encouragement to every Believer to pray instead of worry and fear over every situation and circumstance being faced.

God heard David’s prayer! “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.” Even when surrounded by his enemies, King David felt safe and secure because he knew the Lord had heard his prayer; he knew that the Lord was with him, protecting him. I believe each one reading this can remember a situation where the Lord protected you, kept you safe. We probably do not know all the times we were protected or kept from some harmful situation. One thing you can know is that nothing happens to us that is outside of God’s knowledge or His control. Knowing that should help us say with King David, “The Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around”. That’s confidence in the One who saved us and is in the process of changing us into His image as we walk a narrow way into eternity in His kingdom!