 When the world and the evil one tells you that there is no hope for you - not even in God - sleep tends to escape you. This is especially the case when you are being chased by your own son and the vast majority of the army of Israel. Yet that is exactly what David says here. He lay down and slept. What is it that allowed David to do this - and how can we access the same kind of peace and tranquility that he did - even in the midst of our storms and trials?
The main reason for David's peace is a fresh vision of God in the midst of his trials. We previously learned of how David saw God as His shield, glory, and head-lifter - all aspects of God's grace and protection. In addition to this David also cried out to God and God answered from the place of His habitation. This allowed David to lay down and sleep. We would be wise to follow this same path if we want peace in the midst of trouble and trial. David understood God's sustaining hand as well. David most likely had sentries and guards standing around him in this situation. But before we put too much stock in this we must remember that David's entire army at this point was somewhere around 600-1000 men. They were facing an army of well over 1.5 million soldiers - led by a son who hated his father vehemently. A guard or even a 1000 guards are no guarantee of safety. David know God was going to sustain him. The word for sustain means to hold up or to bear up. Is God currently holding you up in life? Is it a trust and reliance upon God that is undergirding your life in the midst of trials and suffering? David chose to know God in the midst of his great difficulty - to know His grace and mercy - to know His sustaining. That is what allowed him to sleep. But for David there was far more than just sleep involved in knowing God in the midst of his trial. David also had a confidence that God would protect him against his enemies. Some might speak of being afraid of thousands and ten thousands and it is nothing more than hyperbole. But for David this statement was literally. He was surrounded by thousands and even ten thousands. Yet he says here that he was not afraid of them. What was it that gave David such strong confidence? This was not David's first rodeo on the matter of having a godless man chase him through the wilderness trying to kill him. This situation had to have an altogether strange feel to it. David had been here before - with Saul - and with God. So many times his life had been bound up with God even as his enemy was all around him. What I believe sustained David was God's Word - His promise that He would build an enduring legacy through David. Little did David know that this legacy would be fulfilled through a suffering Savior Who would come on the scene hundreds of years later. God was committed to David - even when David had blown it and blown it badly. God was up to something in history - and nothing or no one was going to derail it. David knew, after he had been in God's presence that he was once again in the stream of God's will. That stream cannot be stopped. The truly wise man makes sure that he is in the current of that stream - no matter what it takes. That was the difference between verse 1 of this Psalm and verse 6. David turned to the Lord and in a wonderful return to the heart and purposes of God, David was once again caught up in that glorious, comforting, sustaining flow of the will of God. Oh the confidence gained in that stream! David again calls upon the name of the Lord. This time he calls for God's protection in battle, for he knows that a battle looms in his future. Absalom IS coming, and he is coming with all tens and hundreds of thousands of Israel. But note how David speaks here. It is amazing that he prays, not in the future tense - as in one who is asking for God to do something out in the future. He prays as if things are already done. First David prays for God to arise and save him. There is a total reliance on God for the victory in this situation. One study of Scripture that will blow your mind is a study of what happens when God does arise and fight for His people and His purposes. It is at both a terrifying thing for His enemies as well as a wonderful comfort to those defended by His actions. We see things like a single angel slaying 185,000 of the enemy in one night. We watch as God fights for His people by having large rocks from heaven crush them as they flee. We hear His marching in the tree tops and find when we emerge from t he forest that He has already gone before us to win the day. Here the picture given to us is that of God swinging with a mighty blow and landing a right hook to the check of His enemy. The force of the blow is so strong that it crushes and shatters the teeth of the opposition. David prays not that this will happen - but knows that is has already happened. One of the pictures given to us in the Scriptures of the attacks of the devil is that of a lion crouching and awaiting the kill. We read in 1 Peter that Satan is prowling about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. But we are not to fear - for the Lord has already gone before us and struck our enemy to where all his teeth have been shattered and crushed in his mouth. We face a toothless lion because of God's victory - and it is one that is already won. The teeth of that conflict is the Law and our sin. Because of our sin we are doomed to be consumed by the justice of God Himself as the Law points out our rebellion and wickedness. But take great hope saints - even as the wicked one accuses us (for he is the accuser of the brethren) and calls for us to be consumed - God has already won the victory. He won it through Jesus Christ - Who through all eternity has been the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He was slain for our sin - and raised for our justification. He now stands as our victory in all things. This is why there IS HOPE for you in God. There is hope because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, your enemy has already been rendered toothless because of God's powerful and eternal deliverance. David ends this particular Psalm stating this as he says, "Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah." It is because of Christ that we are saved from all our failures and all the sins that we envision taking away our hope in God. It is because of Him that we can have confidence and peace - even as we fully understand what messed up people we are. It is grace and God's salvation that will allow us to stand. David says, Salvation belongs to the Lord! What an interesting way to put it. What he is saying is that there is no salvation apart from Him. It belongs to Him - and He grants it to whomever He chooses. AND - as if we can handle much else - His salvation also comes with His blessing. David also writes, "Your blessing be upon your people," as well. It is astounding to imagine it, but not only is our salvation provided by God, but it comes with His blessing as well. David closes with one last "Selah." Stop and think about that. Meditate on this blessing - this salvation, this Defender, this Hearer of prayer, this One Who saves to the uttermost. Stop and meditate on the victory of this Dread Champion who shatters the teeth of those stupid enough to oppose Him and His purposes in the gospel. Stop and think about His salvation. The enemy may whisper or even shout that there is no hope for you in God. Remember this thought when he does. He is a liar and the father of lies. The only place where there is ever a sure hope is in God, His gospel, His sure defense, and His blood-bought blessing.
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NO HOPE FOR YOU?
Dark times came slithering into my life, Dark times with venom of struggle and strife, Dark days hung like clouds in the air, Dark whispers spoke of ultimate despair. No hope for you O Adam's son, No hope for you O sinning one, No hope at all child of this sod, No hope for you, no hope in God. Failures swirled about and encircled my head, Failures hissing their doubts and their dread, Failures mounting up mountainous in size, Failures prophesying of my demise. No hope for you O Adam's son, No hope for you O sinning one, No hope at all child of this sod, No hope for you, no hope in God. Turning to Him to stop this assault, Turning to Him O grace given halt, Turning to Him for whisperings to cease, Turning to Him for mercy's release. No hope for you O Adam's son? No hope for you O sinning one? No hope at all child of this sod? There's hope for you - but only in God. He is a shield, a shield all about, He is a shield from darkness and doubt, He is a shield, flaming arrows to quench, He is a shield from sin and death's stench. No hope for you O Adam's son? No hope for you O sinning one? No hope at all child of this sod? There's hope for you - but only in God. My Glory, arrested by a life-changing name, My Glory, the only One worthy of fame, My Glory, blinded by a sight-granting view, My Glory, all glory owned only by You. No hope for you O Adam's son? No hope for you O sinning one? No hope at all child of this sod? There is hope for you - but only in God. Head-lifter, golden scepter extended to me? Head-lifter, are those scars in your hand I see? Head-lifter, can it be that I see Your face? Head-lifter, Bestower of mercy and grace, Now hope for you O Adam's son. Now hope for you O blood-bought one. Now hope for you, child of this sod. Now hope for you - but only in God.  David is once again running for his life. This time it is his son who is chasing him around the wilderness. As he climbs the far side of Jerusalem heading for the wilderness (and the climb is a long one), he hears whispers in his heart. There is no hope for you in God, David. Your failures have come home to roost. Yet, as we saw in part one of this study of Psalm 3, David took time to consider what was being whispered in his spirit. What a wise thing to do - to stop and meditate - think about - consider - what is being said.
Selah. David takes a moment and thinks seriously about what he has started this song saying. He is singing a type of the blues - at least a country song that commiserates with his audience about how bad it is for him. But he stops singing the words though for an instrumental portion in the song. Selah means to stop and consider what you've just heard. It was usually done with an instrumental moment in the music. Ever stop in the midst of your miserable self-monologues and think about what you've just said? It is something we should do - especially when our misery wants to lead us to helplessness and despair. "Wait a minute!" we should say to ourselves. Stop and think a moment about what you've just said. "But You, Jehovah, are a shield about me. My glory, and the One Who lift my head." What a radical change from, "no help for you in God" to God being his shield, glory, and head-lifter. Amazing what comes to us when we exercise our right to shut up and listen for a few moments. Astounding what we can learn when we stop and consider the words spoken to us - and even those which we are speaking to ourselves in a rough moment. Are we listening to God - or just focusing on our inner-Eyeore? David, much more than most, had reason to be depressed. He was facing, after all, exile because his son was leading a successful rebellion and overthrow of his kingdom. Yet, stopping and thinking in the presence of God is NEVER a bad idea. Why did I just use the phrase, "stopping and thinking in the presence of God?" It is because that is what is evident in David's words. He stopped and considered things from the stand point of God. He stopped and considered what was being said about God. Is God no longer his deliverer? Is there no hope of salvation for David? Once he stops and considers these words - he doesn't turn only to what God said - but more importantly - Who God is! That is the answer to His dilemma. Who is God right now? What a great question to ask.YOU - Jehovah! That is the answer to every problem we face and every issue that comes up in our lives. YOU - Jehovah! That is ultimately where we need to turn when the world, the flesh, the devil tell us that all hope is lost. Turning to ourselves in such moments is like turning to a defaulted bank for funds. The bank is bankrupt - and has nothing. We ourselves, in ourselves, are bankrupt as well. So - our first thought should be this . . . Who are You in all this, God? That is what will help us in this and every other situation that we face. David is reminded of Who God says that He is. You are a shield about me! You are my glory! You are the lifter of my head! You answer prayer! Let's take a quick look at these answers to David's problem. You, Jehovah are a shield about me. God is a shield and refuge to us. David thinks and remembers the way that God dealt with these situations in the past. Time and time again God surrounded David in times of difficulty and trial like a giant shield. David was protected against the enemy - against Saul when he was crazy - against Goliath - against every foe he had ever faced. This dawned upon him the same way that Elisha's servant was awakened to the protection of God evidenced to him when God opened his eyes to the mountains filled with angels of fire all around him. But then again, that is one of our fundamental problems isn't it. We cannot see Him - so we tend to wonder if He is there. This is not a problem usually for us until the physical problems in our lives get in our face - and we are blinded to the unseen because of the overwhelming presence and demand of the seen. Jehovah was and is a shield to His people and His anointed. But - there are times when though seeing, we are blind to His presence. Regardless of our circumstances though - He is with us - and He is here. You, Jehovah, are my glory! Though this may seem not a huge issue at first, it is the first issue David sees in refocusing on God - and it is a primary issue for him, and for us as well. Honestly, we probably have not thought about "glory" and how important it is to have the right glory in your life. Often we freak out in life because someone is messing with our "glory." Let me explain a little more what I mean by this. Our glory is what is of utmost importance in our lives. For many people that is themselves, their stuff, their position, their power, their happiness . . . in short - they glory in themselves. When someone messes with their glory it is serious. But consider for a moment David and this issue of "glory." As a young man he walked into a situation that involved glory. Goliath stood for 40 days and defied Israel to send out anyone to fight him. Everyone except David missed that glory was being addressed. Saul and his entire army were scared and depressed about this situation - but only saw it in reference to their own glory. This looked bad on them - their fighting ability - their standing and position - and honestly - their own selves - because to go out and fight this monster of a man surely meant death to whoever tried it! Stupid Goliath! He's messing with our glory! Then along came David. He heard the taunts, heard the challenge, heard the same insults and came away with a radically different view of things. How dare this uncircumcised Philistine say these things about God! Stupid Goliath! He's messing with God's glory! That is why he knew he could take Goliath. He KNEW he could take out this doofus who was messing with God's glory! He knew it because he was far more concerned with God's glory than his own. Out David waltzes on the battlefield - no armor - no sword - just a sling and five stones (one for Goliath and each of his ugly brothers too - if they dare to act against God's glory!) WOW - what an amazing faith this young man had! You, Jehovah, are my glory! That is what got David through all this. It is what will get you through your mess too! Your problems and distresses are ultimately NOT ABOUT YOU! God is working through everything He allows so that as you trust Him - look to Him - rely on Him - pray to Him - and fight by His power - you will be to the praise of His glory! Oh God! You are my glory - it is all about You! All this that I am facing - is so that men may see Your glory and what You can do! How did David radically change in these moments? He radically changed the center of this controversy from himself to God. Just a few thoughts. Who did God say that He would build an enduring kingdom through? Who had God said that He forgave when David repented of his sin of adultery, murder by proxy, and deceit? Who did God say that he would protect and keep through all his troubles? And ultimately - Whose glory was MOST affected by Absalom's rebellion, open immorality, and dishonoring of his father and his father's God? Yeah - it wasn't David's glory - it was God's glory. You, Jehovah, are the lifter of my head! The last of these three statements about God may be the most glorious. "Wait a minute," you may think. "What does 'head-lifting' have to do with being chased through the wilderness by another madman?" The answer to that question is found in the whispers that filled David's head - not by his situation in general. David heard that there was no hope for him in God. That meant that God was through with him - done - finished! He wanted nothing more to do with David. But David, in meditating on that thought, realized that this did not fit Who God had been in his life. You see, David was a mess (much like we all are as well). This was not his first rodeo, so to speak. He had failed multiple times before. His failures at times seemed to go above his head so that he feared drowning in the sea of his own transgressions and sin. As David considered his bleak past, he also considered just Who it was that he met at every turn. It was God - Who often was working even through David's sin. He met God at every failure - even though as he came upon the Lord his head was hanging low in shame and disgrace. But God was not there to cast him to the side, offering him judgment and condemnation void of any hope. God met him with grace and forgiveness - as if someone had paid the ultimate price for his sin. (Little did David know - Someone had paid it as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.) This was not a God who banished him. This was The God who "lifted his head" out of disgrace into renewed favor and grace. The golden scepter of grace in Jesus Christ had been extended, removing the death sentence he deserved in the presence of the King Who would never welcome such a sinful man. This is Who Jehovah is - the One Who lifts my head - giving me grace - giving me mercy - offering compassion. No hope for you in God? Far from it saints - but only as you remember Who God is. The answer to your dilemma - indeed to ALL your dilemmas - is found in Who God is. This God, Who maybe even unknown to you allowed these circumstances to come into your life, is not Who you think Him to be. He has not cast you off - thrown you away - or left you behind because of your sins. If He reacted to you apart from mercy - He would have consumed you at the occasion of your first sin! Your God is your shield of protection - only allowing in your life what is needed for your sanctification to be accomplished. Your God is your glory - reminding you to lay down the ridiculous thought that it is or ever was about you and what you want. Your God lifts your head - rather than crushes it due to your sin. He has laid His hand of judgment on His Son at Calvary - and now by faith you receive grace upon grace. Even in the most dire of difficulties this is Who He is. So stop making yourself the center of this situation - your comfort the center of your pursuits - and your glory the purpose of your life. This will lead only to misery in the end. Stop! Consider what you are thinking! And realize the answer is this - Who is God? The sooner we come to this conclusion - the sooner that we can experience the transformation - the same transformation David experienced in Psalm 3.  There are times in life when we feel that the entire world is coming apart at the seams. There are times when those who were close to us may betray us and walk away - times when nothing seems stable. David experienced those times when his son led a rebellion against Him and even sought to hunt him down and kill him.
Absalom had declared himself king and the majority of Israel had been led astray to follow after him. He had fomented discontent in the hearts of the people making them think David was no longer accessible to them. David had to flee the palace and leave Jerusalem. It is interesting to note that songs come to us not just in the "good" moments of our lives, but also in times of distress. Country music and the blues do not have a corner on music written in times of trouble, difficulty, sadness, and even depression. David sang to the Lord - in good times and in bad. So what did David do when faced with very distressing times? That is what we learn in Psalm 3 as we listen to him sing this song in the midst of betrayal and dire trouble. David was facing a very real problem. Thus as he begins this troublesome song he begins by facing the problem. He did not seek to hide from it or deny that it existed. "O Lord how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me! Many are saying of my soul, 'There is no deliverance for Him in God!'" The statement among these three that troubled David most was the third. No deliverance for me - not even from God? Could it be true? Could it be that this was a sign that God was finished with David? Could it be that the sins of David's past had come home to visit him for the last time? Was God saying through His providence in all this that He was casting David off - that he need not even call out to God - that the last of his deliverances was used up - and now all that remained was his pitiful demise? This is one of the most deadly things we face in times like David faced. God is through with you! There is no more deliverance for you from Him. Your sins have risen too high and this stroke of bad fortune is proof of it! There is nothing left for you - you are beyond His mercies or His grace! Oh what a pitiful and horrible place to think you have come to in life. That was the talk that surrounded David in these hours that seemed like days. The truly troubling thing to David in these moments was that he might have believed them. He had failed in the Bathsheba incident. He had blown it when he did not deal with the rape of his own relative, who happened to be Absalom's daughter. He failed to act with strength when Absalom took matters into his own hands and killed his brother, the crown prince, for his actions. Then David flip-flopped in his dealings with Absalom, banishing him - then having him return - then not seeing him - then receiving him after Joab interceded for him. It was quite a mess - and maybe that mess is what led God to allow this. Maybe there wasn't any grace or mercy left for David's failures. Those are hard moments for us too. Moments when all our failures are before us - and we begin to wonder if the whispers in our spirit are accurate. There is no deliverance for us in God. He is sick to death of us and all our multitudinous mistakes, blown moments, and failures. We know we would be sick - and indeed are sick of ourselves. Our number of Romans 7 moments mounting up even as we consider praying in our current mess. These are very dangerous moments for us. They can be moments of incredible despair - and moments when we give up hope - giving up the one thing we truly need, which is the ability to turn to God, crying out to Him for mercy and grace in our time of need. What should we do in moments like this? Where can we turn and how do we get to the point of turning? Moses was told by none other than God Himself what Jehovah's true character is. In Exodus 34 after one of Israel's greatest sins, the making and worshipping of the golden calf, God revealed Himself to Moses as He re-wrote the 10 commandments on new stone tablets. This is what God said to him. "Jehovah, Jehovah God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin . . . " What a glorious revelation of Himself God made. I must also state that in the rest of that verse God also promises to not leave the guilty unpunished. But remember this - He had not consumed Israel in His wrath and judgment. If ever there was a moment to let His wrath fly, that was it! Consume all of them in a moment! There would be no deliverance for them in God - they had sinned - they had blown it again and again through the wilderness! You have got to be kidding to even ask for mercy and grace! Yet - there it is - again - and again - and again . . . mercy . . . compassion . . . forgiveness of iniquity, transgression, sin. Moses turned to God in the worst of situations . . . and in the worst of situations God revealed Himself merciful and compassionate and forgiving. The day would come when the wrath and judgment for sin would fall. But not today. Not on David, even in this moment that reminded him of every failure and every blown opportunity. That judgment would fall . . . on a different One. God Himself - in the person of the Son - would pay the price - WOULD take the fall - the ultimate fall. But today . . . the failures of today . . . the problems, difficulties, horrors of sin's past . . . they would receive mercy - compassion - forgiveness. What a God - indeed - what an amazing God! Where are you - troubled saint of God? Has the rising tide of your past failures come to the point of attempting to drown you today? Have you struggled to keep your head above them, all the while hearing whispers in your spiritual ears that there is no deliverance for you in God this time? Oh, precious saint of God - know that even in this moment your wisest choice is to turn to God - crying out to Him in the midst of your troubles. The One Who showed that His lovingkindnesses indeed never cease is near to the broken-hearted. The One Who revealed that His marvelous compassions never fail will hear your call. Amidst the deafening whispers of the wicked one David still heard the still, small blowing of the Holy Spirit. It was that voice that reminded him that even in Israel's horrific moment of "golden calf" sinfulness and failure that God showed His glory to a broken-hearted Moses who cried out to Him. It was in that most horrible of spiritual devastations that God revealed Himself by His endless mercy and grace. Don't listen to the wicked whispers, most precious ones of God. Listen to the glorious roar of God's gentle breeze - to the precious blowing of the Holy Spirit as He speaks of the "praise of the glory of His grace" to you. It is the song that has comforted the spiritual failures of every generation since the fall of man. It is the song that continues to emanate from the very throne of God - through the blood-stained cross of Calvary. Listen, saints, listen! Can you hear it? |
Pastor John LawrencePsalms for Life . . . God moved on several people to write the Psalms. This is a book of songs and poems written by people who were seeking to be devoted to God as they walked though their lives. This is a collection of songs and poems that express the true, wonderful, and often raw emotions that we have as we journey through life with God. I hope you will be blessed and encouraged as you read. But more than that I hope that these expositions and writings will help you to seek Him in the midst of the life you live in this world. It will be at times comforting and encouraging, while at others it will be challenging and awkward. Regardless of where you find yourself on this spectrum as you read, it will be a reminder that God invites us into His presence to truly walk with Him, know Him, and at times, pour out emotions of joy, sorrow, frustration, anger, and everything else you can imagine. He not only invites you to do this - He delights in it too! Hope you enjoy your journey! Archives
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