Psalm 3

 Psalm 3

When Absalom began his rebellion, there were many that jumped on the bandwagon. Popular opinion and the possibility of personal advancement are powerful motivators. Some of those who followed Absalom believed and said that God no longer supported David. This may have been their heart's conviction or merely a smear campaign. David heard and felt their derision.

But this hardship in public opinion of his enemies did not drive David to doubt but to confidence. Trusting God and good times is easy; trusting God and the circumstances of misery is truly strong faith. When we are living fateful lives and everything seems to be against us, it is easy to give in to doubt. In verses 3-6 David makes four wonderful declarations we need to adopt.  In verse 3 he declares his confidence in the one he knew was able to rescue him.  In verse 4 he continued to speak to God and was so confident that in that moment he used a past tense about God’s answer.  In verse 5 David realized that God’s protection was over him even while he slept, that it was God who preserved and protected him. In verse 6 David articulates that the person who is with God is never outnumbered. In these four principles we find an expression of a strong faith, not a silly putty, Pollyanna denial of hardship but a realization that God is bigger than the hardship.

David leaves revenge to God and in verse 7 speaks of God’s action on his behalf. The use of the past tense indicates a reference to either of David’s past help from God or a prophecy about the current crisis but spoken of in the past tense to indicate certainty. In verse 7 David’s enemies are slapped on the cheek and have their teeth shattered. In their culture, to slap was the insult of the most aggressive nature. The shattered teeth may refer to the enemy as a wild beast who has their weapons broken. Whatever the nuance may be, the revenge belongs to and comes from the Lord.

“Lord, in difficult moments help me to trust in Your care. AMEN”