Psalm 3: Enemies Rising
By Pastor Brooks
A Morning Prayer
If you feel like you are facing impossible odds and that your enemies are stronger that the angel of death, you are not alone. There was a day in David’s life, he didn’t have the strength of syrup. With enemies rising, he could have easily drifted into a sea of depression. How did he survive the flood of negative reports? Before us is a morning prayer that reveals the key to overcoming the spirit of despair that seeks to strangle hope among us.
What should we do when we are overwhelmed with adversity and our enemies are stronger than steel?
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Psalm 3:1-8 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son[1].
This insightful psalm was composed during the civil war between David and his rebel son, Absalom. It was composed during the king’s hasty flight from Jerusalem down to the Jordan Valley. His small entourage scrambled to flee the capital city and every face bore witness to the distress. On the way, David received all kinds of negative reports of Absalom’s coup d’état and military advancement on the palace. The situation was real and serious. This is a morning prayer; i.e., it instructs us on how to handle fears that announce our doom. The prayer was on the lips of David and was written for us so we might know how to pray at the beginning of a day filled with gray clouds.
MULTIPLICATION OF ADVERSARIES
1:1 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
David was overwhelmed with the numerous, overwhelming odds against him. The shear numbers of Absalom’s loyalists and size of his army knocked the wind out of him. David was in a state of shock at how quickly the nation he had fought so hard to save from surrounding nations deserted him.
David’s emotions were compounded. Not only did David have enemies, the chief enemy was a son whom he loved. Who can understand the twisted grief strangling David’s heart during the Absalom Revolt?
While David faced internal and external enemies, and while his enemies were political, national, and international, the believer also has many adversaries. There are times in life when he awakes to strange bedfellows: a Judas in the form of traitors, gossipers, political rivals, and narcissistic neighbors. Maybe the adversarial State has turned lose its minions of mistaken justice to capture him in their commercial net. On top of this, he fights the world, the flesh, and the Devil. At times, the battle seems overwhelming . . . even impossible.
3:2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.[2]
As David was fleeing from Absalom, he received many negative reports from couriers about the size and success of the uprising. The reports were exaggerated and cast in the most gloomy terms. His hair turned gray. Even his closest advisors felt David’s cause was lost. Not only did David feel like God had forsaken him, his friends confirmed the cynical voices screaming from his doubting heart. No miracles should be expected! The nation was divided. This was the psychological warfare and its cannons blasted the fort in David’s soul.
Likewise, we need to realize that being victorious in the midst of so much opposition starts with winning the psychological battle. How often do we wake up and hear the thunder of doom rumbling in our own soul? Darkness pressed on all sides? Duties taste like chalk? When these storm clouds of hopelessness rain despair on our soul, we need to realize the psychological battle is part of the enemies’ strategy to defeat us. “God HAS NOT GIVE US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR!” (2 Tim. 1:7). We dare not look at circumstances or listen to the inner voices of melancholy, but look to God and listen ONLY to His Word.
THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ADVOCATE
3:3-4 But thou, O LORD, art a shield[3] for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill[4]. Selah.
The term “but thou” (hT’äa;w>) is emphatic in Hebrew. In the midst of the spurious rumors that prophesied David’s doom, he reminded himself with vigorous faith that God was his shield and glory—the One who infused strength into his soul. In David’s core, he believed God was his Protector and his Sustainer. So, he prayed . . . oh, how he must have prayed!
While fleeing, David muttered out a prayer. It wasn’t long, but it was genuine. The answer did not come immediately. He learned later after the crisis that God had answered his plea. The answer came from His holy hill. Both David’s throne and God’s throne were in Jerusalem. And, while David had lost his throne, God had not lost His!! We must keep in mind in the midst of the upheavals in life, God never ceases to be sovereign. He can act to help us . . . if we are in touch with him . . . if we believe His Word and not the ugly voices within!
THE EXALTING ANTHEM
3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me[5].
Despite being battered emotionally from all the negative reports about revolution, and despite having to feel his way through the darkness during his day of flight, David was able to sleep—and to sleep well. The confidence that God was in control of his imperfect, flawed, faulty life, enabled him to commit his defense to God and to sleep through the first terrible night. David was not a perfect man with a perfect walk, but he served a gracious supporting God.
3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.[6]
David now asserts the lesson he learned. He reflected on how his soul had been battered by the barrage of negative reports and how his soul was pierced by arrows of fear. Prayer answered, David resolves to never again let fear invade the fortress of his heart. David, with his talons of faith sunk deep into the character of the LORD, makes a choice, “I WILL NOT be afraid!”
The battle on inside is often worse than the battle on the outside. Like David, we need to revisit our faith and to make a choice. What are going to believe: our inner fears or the promises of God? Rather than give into fear and the inner voices that prophecy defeat, we need to examine the heart of God, pray, and commit what we can’t understand to the One Who controls all things? Having prayed, we get off our knees, and restfully go about our day’s duties.
3:7-8 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.[7]
With enemies rising, David entreated God to “Arise”—thus the reason for this psalm. Though David prayed and God answered his prayer, his conflict with Absalom did not end immediately. He continued to pray for deliverance knowing that ultimate deliverance came from the Lord.
David ends with a benediction asking the Lord to bless His people. David’s prayer for deliverance was not self-centered. He did not throw himself a pity party with himself as the only guest. He looked outward, not inward. He got off his knees and determined to be a blessing to others! His continuance as king was necessary for the benefit of the nation. History proved this to be true. Likewise, all prayer should have as its end a blessing for the people of God.
[A note: Depressed people are usually unbelieving, disobedient Christians trapped in a web of self-centeredness wherein the spider of melancholy sucks out every ounce of hope from the heart. These unbeliefing folks will not believe God’s Word nor will they take a genuine interest in other people. They are stuck of self crying daily about all their troubles of life. They have a unique ability to discount the suffering of others . . . and are completely deficient in love and concern for other people. David refused to visit this island! He did what he could, even in his suffering, to be a blessing to his people. And, so will every man of God.]
In conclusion, when you see enemies rising, pray this prayer. It is a morning prayer designed to free us from the baggage of fear. Sink your talons into the promises. Believe God’s goodness though you may not FEEL his goodness. Once prayed, leave the results with God. Get off your knees and go to work being a blessing to others. Call friends. Serve a neighbor. Help your spouse. Be a blessing to someone, everyday!
___________
Brook Stockton, Ph.D. Retired Pastor SBC, Retired Professor of Theology, Trinity Southwest University-ABQ.
This article may be used for small Bible Studies.
[1] Axªr>b’B (Qal, infinitive construct, 3rd, m., s) “while or in fleeing”
ynEÜP.mi = “from the face of” Absalom his son.
WBår;-hm'( (Qal, perfect, 3rd p., s.) “how increased are yr’_c’ my enemies”
~yBiªr;÷ Adjective plural = “how much” ~ymiîq’ (Qal ptc.) “increased” yl'([‘ “upon me”
[2] ~yBir; “how much” ~yrIám.ao (Qal ptc., m., pl. ) “are saying to my soul, no ht'[‘¦Wvy>) salvation to him in Elohim.” David is surrounded by negativity.
[3] “And you, LORD, are a !gEåm’ shield ydI_[]B about or upon me, ydIªAbK my glory/abundance/wealth ~yrIïmeW (Hiphil ptc.) raising/exalting yvi(aro my head.” Note David’s positive view of God (a shield), the one who raises him up.
[4] “My voice to the LORD ar’_q.a, (Qal, imperf., 1st, s.) I cry, ynInE“[]Y:)w: (Waw conseq., imperf., 3rd. s.) and he heard me Avåd>q’ rh:ßme from his holy mountain. Positive answer to prayer.
[5] “I yTib.k;ªv’ laid myself down and hn”v”ïyaiñw (Qal, waw conseq., imperf. 1st, s., paragogic or emphatic heh) I slept! ytiAc+yqih (Hiphil, perfect, 1st, s.) I awaken for the LORD ynIkE)m.s.yI (Qal, imperf., 3rd s., 1st suffix) will sustain me.
[6] ar’yaiâ-al{) (Qal, imperfect, 1st s.) I will not be afraid when ten thousand/myriads people which/that bybiªs’÷ around Wtv’ä (Qal, perfect, 3rd, pl.) set themselves/put themselves/ around or upon me. David’s future emotional application—No fear, no matter what!
[7] hm’ÛWq« (Qal, imp. 3rd, s., parogogic heh) Rise up, LORD, save me, Elohim, t’yKiähi-yK (Hiphil, perf., 2nd, m., s.) you smite yxil,_ yb;äy>ao-lK’-ta all my enemies upon the yNEßvi tooth/cheek, ~y[iäv’r> the wicked T’r>B:)vi (Piel, perfect, 2nd, s.) you smash.
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