Psalm 3

April 3rd, 2020

O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.
So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.
I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.
I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.
Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
Victory comes from you, O Lord.
May you bless your people.
- Psalm 3

Psalm 3 was written by David after having fled Jerusalem to escape his son Absalom and his following. It was no doubt a humiliating and scary time in King David’s life. When life as we know it falls apart, we must know who God is and cling to him in prayer. What does Psalm 3 tell us about the Lord our God?

He is our Shield - God is our protector and our defender
He is our Glory - no matter our earthly prominence or position, our identification with the Lord Jesus is our only claim to glory.
He restores our joy - He keeps my head held high and will restore the joy I had before this present crisis.
He answers our prayers (v. 4)
He sustains us and gives us peace (v.5)
He gives us victory (v.8) - when we expect deliverance from God alone, he gets all the praise when He answers our prayers

Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for who you are. Thank you for your protection and your provision. Thank you for breath in my lungs and for sustaining my physical body. Thank you for calming my soul and giving me rest. Father, even when I feel pressed on all sides, hear my prayer and deliver me. Lord, thank you for this opportunity to trust in you.

Action Steps:

Listen to “See a Victory” by Elevation Worship. Ask God to remind you who the battle belongs to and from where victory comes (v. 8)
Meditate on Psalm 3:6. "I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side." Ask God to replace your fears with peace. Then, read Philippians 4:5-7: "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Pray about anything that comes to mind while you read. Cry out to God with your fears and burdens and thank him for the trials you are facing and for this opportunity to trust in him and his sovereignty.

For Kids: Create a shield with the bottom of a paper plate. Fill the plate with words or pictures of who God is or what he is like. Talk about how God acts as a shield to protect His people physically and share how our knowledge of Him protects us in various situations (i.e. knowing that God heals is a comfort to someone who is sick, or knowing God is sovereign is a comfort when things around you seem to be out of control, etc.) Attach a strip of paper to the plate to create the shield. Close the activity by talking about how the ultimate way that God protects His people is protecting them from His own wrath by sending Jesus to die on the cross in our place.

Posted in Walking with Psalms