WORSHIP IN THE PSALMS (2)

“But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head” – Psalm 3:3

In addition to ascribing Glory to God, WORSHIP in the PSALMS has therapeutic values for the worshiper: “But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head” (Psa.3:3). In his closing years, when Absalom, his own son, betrayed him and tried to take the throne, David could have chosen to retaliate by sending out his loyal troops against Absalom. Instead, he fled from Absalom with tears in his eyes and a broken heart. Rather than be overwhelmed by the excruciatingly troubling situations surrounding him, David looked to the Lord, worhiping Him with the eternal words of Psalm 3, as he ascended the Mount of Olives.

Psalm 3 is the first psalm attributed to David. Not only do we know that he wrote the psalm, but we also know when he wrote the psalm – while fleeing from his own son, Absalom (the details are in 2 Samuel 15-17). David wrote this psalm the morning he fled for his life after Abasalom, his son, attempted to take the kingdom from him by force. This psalm delves into the real life struggles we often have; times when life seems to be set apart against us and our emotions are frayed by the devastating events that surround us. This is one of the powerful virtues of the psalms: They deal with the raw wounds that we have in a real and open manner. If the likes of David could be encouraged to move forward when life seemed to be falling apart, so can we by God’s Grace!

This is essentially a psalm about Peace in the midst of trouble: “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me” (v.5). Such words of faith could flow from David’s heart and lips because, rather than complain against the Lord in this time of devastation, he turned to God in adoration and worship: “But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head” (v.3). He lifted his voice up to the Lord, and God heard him “from His holy hill” (v.4). In place of fear, David’s heart was strengthened with faith: “I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around” (v.6). Instead of defeat or devastation, he saw Salvation and Blessings: “Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people” (v.8).

God’s Word reveals that whenever David was in trouble, rather than complain or murmur, he worshiped the Lord with inspired psalms, hymns, and praises. Instead of wallowing in defeat and groping in darkness, David would turn his eyes to the heavens and lift up his voice to the King of kings: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth” (Psa.121:1-2). When we are going through difficult times or dealing with heavy burdens of anxiety, condemnation, fear, or stress, it’s extremely difficult to make the paradigm shift from self-occupation to Christ-occupation. However, we can learn from how King David encouraged himself in the Lord whenever he was fearful, anxious, or depressed.

We can learn from him whom God describes as “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22). Like David, we can worship God with inspired words – Psalms. And, it’s wonderful that when we turn to God in worship, He hears us! As David worshiped the Lord, God turned his circumstances around for his good. God allowed a person in Absalom’s camp to give him unsound advice, and as a result Absalom’s coup d’état failed. No matter what the trouble that we may face, as we learn to worship Jesus in the valley of trouble and praise His lovely Name, He’ll prove to be our Shield, our Glory and the Lifter of our head. As we’re consumed with our Lord Jesus and our hearts find rest and peace in the security of His Love, He will turn our circumstances around for our good.