SALVATION BELONGS TO THE LORD
Psalm 3
O LORD, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the LORD,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
Arise, O LORD!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
Salvation belongs to the LORD;
your blessing be on your people! Selah
This psalm of David was probably written as he was fleeing from Absalom. If you read 2 Samuel 13 and the following chapters, it is certainly a story of sin and its consequences. David had to flee from his own son and deal with many who rose against him. Through the whole event, David relied on God to deliver him.
David knew that, in spite of the words of those around him, his hope was only in the LORD. David had learned, since the days he was a shepherd, to trust his God. He fought against Goliath, he dealt with the envy of Saul, he fought against multiple enemies, and he knew that there was no other place to find true help.
David had also known the reality of sin and God’s forgiveness. He knew that he could still go to the Lord and find refuge and help. Not only was the LORD his shield of protection, but also the One who would lift his head when he was discouraged.
David had found rest in God, he knew he could sleep and rise in the morning, knowing that his life was in the hands of his Lord. His enemies had no power to touch him as long as the Lord would protect him.
Things seemed bleak, but David was sure that his God would protect him. He had no doubts that God had the power to stop his enemies. At the end of the day, he knew that his salvation depended upon the Lord. He was sure that God would do what was right for him and his people.
As we rehearse these truths, we are reminded that we too should recognize the sovereignty of God in our lives, and should rest in His arms. God is aware and can powerfully accomplish his will in any situation. We need to recognize that He is in control and trust Him, as David did.
David had learned to depend on his LORD; we also need to learn also. As we learn more and more to depend upon God our lives will reflect this dependence in our words and actions, and in that way, God can use us also to lead others to trust Him.
The progression in this psalm is so clear. David had real enemies; those around him offered no hope. David did not waver in his trust in his Lord, he knew that God was his shield and to Him would go all the glory. As David went to the only true Lord, he rested and waited for God to work. Salvation belonged to God, he trusted God to accomplish it because he knew that God was sovereignly in control.
May this be the same way we approach our problems. Life is hard, problems are real, and circumstances are overwhelming! Our God is in total control and has perfect eternal plans for our lives. May we rest in His perfect care!
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