Church Family,
This morning, I spent time meditatin on Psalm 3. Psalm 3 is a psalm of King David. According to the editorial comment, it was written as he fled Jerusalem during his son’s (Absalom) attempted coup. You’ll recall from our 2023 study of 1 & 2 Samuel that Absalom was angry with his father and schemed to win over the hearts of the people of Judah. Eventually, Absalom positioned himself, won over some of his father’s closest advisors, and amassed a military of thousands.
When David got word that Absalom was marching on Jerusalem, David ordered that all those close to him flee. As they went, David experienced great grief and heartache (2 Sam 15:30). This was a trying time in David’s life, as the first 2 verses of Psalm 3 attest. David understands that a growing number of adversaries are against him. From a human standpoint, his situation seems bleak.
Have you been there? Have you been in such difficult situations that you lost all hope? Maybe it was a broken relationship or a serious health situation. Maybe the situation involved your finances, your job, or even your family. As Christians, we are not immune to life’s difficulties. The question is, what will we do when we find ourselves in such situations? Where will we turn?
David turned to the Lord. A sharp transition takes place between verses two and three. After stating his situation, David quickly expresses his confidence in the Lord. He proclaims that God is a shield about him and the lifter of his head. In fact, so confident is David in God’s character and provision, that verse four tells us that David slept that very night. As the enemies were gathering, David slept. Now, I don’t know about you, but when things are really tough, sleep can be elusive. How many sleepless nights have you experienced when facing difficult and uncertain circumstances? Most people would admit that in such times, sleep is fleeting.
So why was David able to rest? Did he have some sort of ancient sleeping pill? Was he dishonest and actually didn’t sleep well? No. David knew God’s character. He knew God’s promises. He knew, as verse eight declares, that salvation belongs to the Lord. However, it’s one thing to know God’s promises and another thing to trust in them. Many people are aware of what Scripture teaches us about God’s character and promises. But being aware is not enough. True peace and hope come when we believe and trust God’s character and promises. When we are confident that God’s will is best and that He will sustain us (verse five), then we will be able to rest in God’s plan and experience the joy of the Lord.
Now, I’m not saying that this is easy. It’s not. It’s a battle to fight of the lies of Satan and the uncertainty of our situations. But, as Paul writes in 2 Cor, we are called to walk by faith and not by sight. And while God saved David and his people, and Absalom and his coup were destroyed, God’s greatest provision is not found in earthly victories, but in the finished work of Christ. We can be confident that God will sustain our lives until He is ready to call us to a greater and fuller life in His presence. He is the God who has secured our eternal future through the finished work of Christ. Don’t forget that! In challenging times, even when things don’t make sense, remind yourself that God is for you (all those who are in Christ) and not against you. And don’t forget that God is big enough to manage your struggles, fears, failures, and questions. So, draw near to Him and plead with Him for faith to believe what you know to be true of His character and His promises.
Pastor Nate