David begins in desperation but ends in praise/thanksgiving
King David wrote just over half the Psalms that we know about. His often began crying out to God in desperation and despair, but his psalms often ended with praise and thanksgiving. David’s last words were usually positive and faith building, he couldn’t allow his enemies and his circumstances to overcome him. Neither should we, the sons and daughters of God today.
Many of David’s psalms don’t give us any context, but Psalm 3, was written as he fled from his own son Absalom.
1 Lord, how MANY are my foes!
How MANY rise up against me!
2 MANY are saying of me,
‘God will not deliver him.’ Psalm 3
David obviously felt overwhelmed as he fled Jerusalem, not knowing if he would ever return and sit on the throne again. He knew that he’d brought God’s judgement on himself and his household 2 Samuel 12:11, 12 He held onto God and cried out to Him for His help and mercy.
What positive declarations did David make in this psalm?
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high (encourages me).
4 I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
You’re my Protection, You Encourage me, You answer me.
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
David was able to Sleep because he believed God was protecting and helping him. The external situation wasn’t good but David trusted God for the right outcome. He boldly stated HE WOULD NOT FEAR, no matter how many his enemies.
7 Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
David ends the psalm with a call to God to Deliver him and makes a declaration that Deliverance (Rescue) comes from the Lord. His last statement is that God’s blessing would rest upon His people – calling for God’s blessing despite a coming civil war in the nation.
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but DAVID ENCOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD. 1 Samuel 30 KJV
David had learned how to hold onto God in tough situations and he did so again. He was able to move from despair at what was happening around him to a place of trust in God where he could lie down in sleep. We might say today that he had ‘prayed through’ to peace. In unsettled times we may have to turn to God in deeper/total trust, so that we too are in peace and not overcome by the situations around us.
God bless and keep you today.