"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD HELPING YOU WHEN YOU ARE IN TROUBLE"
A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son
Psalm 3:1 LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
Psalm 3:2 Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah
Psalm 3:3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Psalm 3:4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
Some explanatory thoughts/application/questions, and a prayer:
This Psalm was written by David, when he had to flee Jerusalem because his own son Absalom rebelled against him, and forced him to leave his throne and flee for his life. It was a horrendous time in David's life. One can only imagine the horridness of having your own son do what he did to David. David was in real danger. David was desperate and he called out to the Lord.
1. God's people can have people rise up against them.
Psalm 3:1 LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
This certainly happened to David on more than one occasion. This may have been the worst of the worst, to have your own son do this to you. But, what David was expressing was "how they have increased who trouble me!" And, "Many are they who rise up against me."
He was processing the fact that a number of people, had banded together against him. He then went on to say that this band was "many". And, that they had risen up against him.
This happened to Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, the other apostles, the prophets from the Old Testament. And, it happens to God's people today. Listen to what Paul said. 2nd Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. In other words, if you want to live for God, you can expect opposition, and perhaps even from your own family members, just as David did.
2. God's people will be told the lie that "There is no help for him in God"
Psalm 3:2 Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah
Those who are against God's people, are also against God's Word, and they cannot tell the truth, but rather tell lies. This is a whopper of lie if there ever was one. And, many were telling this lie “There is no help for him in God.” There could not be anything further from the truth. Just because liars tell lies, does not mean they are true. They are lies.
And, the truth is, that God is the helper of His people. There is help for you in God. Liars lie, and God tells the truth.
Psalm 30:10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!”
Psalm 54:4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.
Psalm 72:12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper.
3. God's people however, have God as their shield, glory and the one who lifts up their heads.
Psalm 3:3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Here are some specific ways in which God helps His people.
(1) God is your shield.
(2) God is your glory
(3) God is the one who lifts up your head.
God protects us, God blesses us, and God comes to us when our heads are down, and we are in that place of discouragement, and He lifts up our heads, and our faces, to behold His beautiful, loving, gracious, merciful and helpful face.
4. God's people cry out to the Lord and He hears them.
Psalm 3:4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
Here are two verses that attest to this truth.
Psalm 4:3 But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
Isaiah 41:17 “The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Please remember, that just as nothing can separate you from the love of God, be assured that the Lord will hear you when you cry out to Him.
Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
1st Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”
5. God's people are encouraged by this word "Selah"
The word Selah, is mentioned twice just in these four verses. It's actually found 74 times in the Psalms.
The word Selah, means to lift up, to exalt. It's a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption. In other words, when you see the word "Selah" it's God's way of saying, now just pause a moment and think about what you just read, let it sink in and bless you.
Selah is a favorite word of God's. He really wants us to think about what He tells us, and benefit thereby.
Questions:
1. Are you at this very time in a similar position as David was, having many who are against you?
2. Do you know that it's not true, that there is indeed help for you in God?.
3. Isn't it a blessing to consider and learn about what God is for His people?
4. Do you truly believe God hears you when you speak to Him? He does.
A prayer:
Father, what comfort we receive from the Psalms. Thank You for giving them to us. It will only be in heaven when we are able to appreciate the millions, or billions of people You have encouraged through these Psalms. We would like to take just a moment today, and say, "thank You Lord, for encouraging us, over, and over again" You are truly our helper, our glory, and the one who lifts up our heads, and our hearts. We love you so much.
In Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
