Psalm 3 is titled “Morning Prayer of Trust in God” and is written by David when he fled from Absalom, his son. The conflict began when Absalom grew resentful of his father after David failed to take decisive action following the rape of Absalom’s sister, Tamar, by their half-brother, Amnon. Absalom eventually killed Amnon and fled, but later returned to Jerusalem and began to undermine David’s authority by courting the favor of the people. So David was troubled. He was, in some respects, fearful for his own life. Now this particular application may not apply to you and me today, but similarities may be facing us.
Q – How do you deal with adversities? Too many times we attempt to handle them our way. How did David deal with such adversities? In verses 1-4, we see David lamenting over his enemies.
(Vs. 1-2) David laments over his many adversaries, who comprise a united front. They mock David and exclaim that his God will not take care of him! Also, adversaries can be translated “foes, trouble,” and how my troubles have increased. There’s no doubt the many in vs. 2 describes the fear and pursuit of his own life.
As you walk by faith in this life, serve the King of glory, many may say to you in times of crisis, where is your God? In a health crisis, where is your God? In a marital or family crisis, where is your God? Many laugh at your faith. Many may mock you for trusting God in everything.
David starts his day with confession as if God didn’t know, but nonetheless, this is the relationship God has with His children, “Lord, how my adversaries have increased.” The truth is it doesn’t matter what pagan says or weak and fickle believers. God is trustworthy and one to go to in the midst of adversarial people.
(Vs. 3) David faithfully says of God after his confession and plea to Him, “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.” The king puts his confidence in the protection that God alone can provide because his glory is greater than any human power. He has the power to raise up the humble and abase the mighty. He exalts whom he wills and when he wills. Hannah’s prayer and song in 1 Samuel 2:7-8, “The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He set the world on them.”
(Vs. 4) In this cry to the Lord, He answered David. And He answers us. David would flee Jerusalem, cf. 2 Samuel 15:13-37, and we see this in vs. 3 as he was crying to the Lord, and the word crying carries the meaning of “call, cry, utter a loud sound; for help; of pleading in court.” What confidence David had and what confidence we have that God hears us. David’s confidence in prayer lies not in righteous deeds done in the flesh but in the gracious promises of God.
Application: In this lament of vs. 1-4, we see David lamenting to God about those adversaries, and we have them too. They mock God. But in his cry, the Lord heard him. We have a Father who hears us as children and hears our laments and our troubles. He answers you. We don’t have to fret over Him leaving us or forsaking us, and what confidence we have in Him. Now we see the trust that David has in the Lord in vs. 5-8.
(Vs. 5-6) How do we know David trusts the Lord? Because he lies down and sleeps. And he awoke, and the Lord sustained him. What peace we have today knowing God makes us at peace in the shadow of death. And as we remember the 23rd Psalm, what does God do? He makes us lie down in green pastures, leads us to still and quiet waters. And you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. That’s what God does. And we trust in that He will do these very things, and that’s why you can sleep and rest and have peace in Him.
The results of this trust are David won’t be afraid of ten thousand people. They have even set themselves against him. Yet, he won’t fear because his trust is in the Lord. One commentary says:
Though David has been moved by the “many enemies”, prayer renews his confidence in the One who will be victorious over the many, and with this thought, he consoles himself and goes to sleep.
(Vs. 7-8) Deliverance (salvation) is of the Lord. We see here the cry of David, “Save me!” The skepticism of those in vs. 1 that the Lord will not deliver him. He uses the phrase of “ my God” indicating the petition to a personal Father, not a random idol or distant god. The metaphor of the breaking of teeth likens the enemies to wild animals whose strength is taken away when their teeth are crushed. David’s hope is that regardless of the enemies, God is a deliverer, and salvation only belongs to Him. We have this hope found in 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10, “This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.For after all, it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed―for our testimony to you was believed.” David looks forward to the time of full blessing. In his hope lies ours, for in Jesus’ promises, the victory and blessings of God are assured.
Application: Whatever adversaries you face or mountains or trials or struggles, you are not without hope. Your fear and worry are indications that you do not trust God. Whatever it is that is driving this in your life, do as the Psalmist did here: “ You, O Lord, are a shield, You sustain me, and I know You answer me.”
Overall, it seems that many of us struggle with the issue of trusting in God for everything in our lives. In our Psalm, David acknowledged the fact that God is over all things, including the pursuit of his enemies. While you may not be pursued by an enemy, there are, in fact, many trials, troubles, or griefs that arise. And it’s those that deter our trust. Let us not forget that worry and anxiety always reveal our lack of trust in God.
There are two OT words for trust: one is aman and the other is batah. The first is used in a participle form and generally means “trustworthy, faithful.” The second is used in a noun form and has the meaning of “to trust, rely on, depend on,” with the sense of being completely confident and feeling utterly safe. As David expressed, he was feeling pursued and unsafe, yet he was confident in the hope of the Lord.
How does this apply to me now? We are often encouraged to always put our trust in the Lord. Psalm 62:8, “Trust in Him at all times, o people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” We see David pouring out his heart, and in this pouring out to God, we bring to Him all these things that put pressure on us, that cause worry and fear. Lord, this is where I am weak, but I trust in You; help me, you are my refuge.
There is also a place and time to trust people. Trust is a key element in friendships, marriages, and family circles. Proverbs 31:11, “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.” It is important that human relationships should not be the foundation of our trust; they will and often do fail. Jeremiah warns of such trust in men, Jeremiah 17:5, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” It’s our human nature, and a war we often struggle with is to trust in ourselves too much.
What does it look like to trust God? The essence of trust is a recognition of who God is and who we are. Those who are wealthy can be tempted to trust in money. Proverbs 11:28, “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.” The political and social powerful can trust in the world political system, Psalm 146:3, “Do not give your strength to women or your ways to that which destroys kings.” Powerful men put their trust in militaries. Intelligent people often trust in their own wisdom, Proverbs 28:26, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.” It is only when we recognize that all of these things are insufficient that we must look outside of ourselves. To trust God rather than any of these earthly things is to express confidence in his character and to acknowledge that he is more reliable than anything we possess might or attain.
It’s often in moments of trial that our trust is tested. Psalm 22:5, “To You they cried out and were delivered; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.”