“Pray often rather than very long at a time. It is hard to be very long in prayer, and not slacken in our affections.”
William Gurnall
Psalm 3 – The Source of our Deliverance
This a short, succinct, and sincere cry of David to God for deliverance. David was on the run a refugee from his beloved Jerusalem forced into exile by the traitor Absalom. To make matters worse and to multiply his anguish Absalom was his own son. Arrows from the enemy can be tolerated and extinguished but an assault from family is a wound that is slow to heal. David had been pushed to the brink of despair and ringing in his ears were the taunts of his foes, “God will not deliver him.” (v. 2) What did David do? Where did he go to find comfort? Where do you go to find deliverance?
David provides us with an answer. He confesses, “But you are a shield around me, O Lord, my Glorious One, who lifts up my head.” (v. 3) The warrior-poet finds comfort in a familiar emblem. God is his shield, not the common shield of the warrior which only protects in front of him but a divine shield that is all-encompassing. God is David’s defense. The armor David wears is the relationship of trust that exists between David and his God. The Christian today stands with David and confesses that “we have one who speaks in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1)
The confidence of David can also be seen in the infrequently employed phrase, “who lifts up my head.” (v. 3) This symbolizes the turning of the shame into joy. It captures the euphoria the condemned enjoy after receiving their pardon. It is the same image that Joseph used when describing the forthcoming freedom of the cupbearer, “Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.” (Gen 40:13) Perhaps David is remembering this story and secretly hoping that the Lord, his Glorious One, whose power infinitely outshines that of Pharaoh will restore him to his former position. Ultimately, God did that for David. He delivered him from Absalom’s rebellion and restored him to the throne. Today take a moment and seek the Lord and wait on his deliverance.
Unto Him be glory,
Pastor Dale
