THE MORNING PSALM

“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head.”  Psalm 3:3

Greetings in the precious Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God has blessed the last month. He was with us throughout the month all the 24 hours and as King Solomon has said in Proverbs 18:10 > “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; a righteous person rushes to it and is lifted up above the danger”, He was a strong tower to us. May the good Lord bless you throughout this month.

I want to place before you Psalm 3 for our devotion as we step into a new month. Psalm 3 through 10 make up a sub collection of psalms that may be referred to as “Golden Chain of Trust”.  This Psalm, in general is known as ‘Morning Psalm’ and its pair Psalm 4 as ‘Evening Psalm’. Both belong to the time of David’s life when he fled from his rebellious son, Absalom (2 Sam. 15-17). Theologians group this in the group known as “The Songs of Fugitive”

We can divide this psalm into four parts. According to David, it was battle against 10,000(Vs.6). Three times the word ‘Selah’ comes in this Psalm.  Selah may mean: Pause. That is after reading the particular verse we will have to give a pause, meditate the word, compare it with our life and then move on to the other verse. So with so many burdens he has written this Psalm.

Vs.1,2 – PETITION

“O Lord, how my enemies have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of me, “There is no help [no salvation] for him in God”.” We can observe the word ‘Many’ being repeated twice. All the people who followed him have deserted him and now are coming against him. We call this as “mob instinct”. Remember, when you are doing right thing, fearing God, you will always stand alone and your own people will stand against you. But you are not alone. The Lord says, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19).

Vs 3,4 – CONFIDENCE

“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head. With my voice I was crying to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy mountain.” God is our Protector and that is why while pouring out his heart, David says in Psalm 16:8, “I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” This is a personal experience of a child of God.

Vs.5,6 – SAFETY

“I lay down and slept [safely]; I awakened, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be intimidated or afraid of the ten thousands who have set themselves against me all around.” Remember, David is now in the desert, no bed for him, only a stone for pillow – a hard time – yet he says that he had good sleep! How can that happen? He replies, “For the LORD was watching over me”. 10,000 soldiers came against a single man – David. But God was with him! Paul with confidence says in Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Vs. 7,8 – STRENGTH OF THE LORD

“Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the Lord; May Your blessing be upon Your people.”

God alone can rescue us from our enemies. The most important thing is as such we do not know who are our enemies. That is the cause of problems in families. We believe them and pour out our heart when we go through some tough period. But the same people who listen to us with more concern go and tell the other person in such a way to provoke them. But when we rely on our Father, He saves us from all our enemies. He is the God of Deliverance and God of blessings.

This is beautiful Psalm which should help us throughout this new month. Let us have the confidence in the Living God, the Father Almighty and truly rely on His strength. God bless you.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for this Psalm of David. I believe that You and You alone are the God deliverance. So be with me and bless me. Amen.