When the storms of life hit | Psalm 3

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Psalm 3 was written by David who was going through some serious trouble his personal life.

What do you do when life around you begins to crumble down?

Career

Physical health

Relationships

David teaches us the following:

When the storms of life hit, glance at the problem but gaze at God.

In other words, focus on God not in your problem.

Glance at your problems

Avoid two extremes:

Some deny reality - it’s not big deal. “I’m fine”

Others have a hopeless view - I’m never getting out of this

Instead, be honest with your circumstances. "God, this is what is happening in my life.”

The setting for this psalm is when David fled from his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15–18)

Ps 3:1 “1 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;”

David’s foes:

Absalom, his Son (2 Samuel 15-18). He is well liked by the people & good looking. He conspired against his dad David by setting himself up as the new king. The news of Absalom rebellion spread quickly through the kingdom, thus forcing David to flee out of Jerusalem.

“O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.”

Ahithopel, his trusted counselor (2 Sam 15:12). He joined Absalom in his conspiracy. Ahithopel volunteered to hunt David down and kill him. Why the hate?

A clue is given in 2 Sam. 23:34 where we learn that Ahithophel has a son named Eliam. In 2 Sam 11:3 we also learn that Eliam has a daughter named Bathsheba.

Ahithopel is Bathsheba’s grandfather. King David had destroyed his granddaughter's marriage in a horrific way. He forced himself on her and murdered her husband.

It is very possible that Ahithopel is seeking to destroy David out of revenge.

“O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.”

Shimei, the angry accuser.

2 Sam 16:5-8 “5 When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8 The Lord has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.””

“O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.”

David doesn’t deny reality nor becomes hopeless. Instead he runs to God and acknowledges how his life is really going.

Gaze at God

When the storms of life hit, glance at the problem but gaze at God.

Gazing at God gives you the proper perspective: my problems are big, but my God is bigger.

The way David does this is by declaring who God is.

Ps 3:3 “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”

You are a shield about me. “God is my protector and my defender”

It’s military language. David’s foes are many. Thousands of people have set themselves against him all around, but he declares the reality that God is a shield around him.

He has protected him in the past and he will now do it again.

This military language is repeated again in the NT.

Phil 4:6-7 “6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

God is in the business of protecting our hearts with his peace.

You are my glory. “God is my worth.” The Hebrew word kavod (lit “heavy”) is often used of a person’s reputation or significance, sometimes being translated as “honor.” (CSB Study Bible)

Some people obtain their significance or worth through their accomplishments, resources, the way their body looks, a significant person, skills, a position of power or title. The problem with all of these things is that they are finite. They all have an expiration date.

David is no longer the king, yet his significance was found in God himself.

Is God your glory? Is He the source of your significance?

Gospel connection: David is saying, “God, your approval is all the glory and significance I need in my life.” In Christ....

You are the lifter of my head. "God is my confidence.”

David left Jerusalem with his head down.

In 2 Sam. 15:30 “But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.”

David left Jerusalem in tears and with his head down.

When our heads is b/c something is weighting us down

Discouragement

Hopelessness

Guilt and shame

But in this Psalm David gazes at God and realizes that God alone is the lifter of his head.

Psalm 32:5 “5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Application: Draw Near to God

Psalm 3:4-8 “4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah 5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. 7 Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah”

Here’s how you draw near to God. This is how you turn from glancing at your problems to gazing at God.

Bring your burdens to God in prayer.

Ps 3:4 “I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.”

Prayer is the means by which God often times delivers his people. We have access to God’s throne room because of Jesus.

You don’t have to hold back what’s on your mind or your heart.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Release your burdens to God.

When you bring your burdens before God, leave them in God’s hands. Don’t take them with you.

Ps 3:5-6 “5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.”

David can lie down and fall asleep because he has placed his life, his problems, his enemies in God’s hands. God never sleeps nor slumbers. (Ps 121:4)

Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He’s going to be up all night anyway. ~Mary C. Crowley

Trust God for the outcome

Ps 3:7-8 “7 Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah”

The phrase “Arise, O Lord!” was spoken by Moses in Numbers 10:35 back when the Ark of the Covenant (a symbol of God’s presence) was carried into battle with God’s army.

Arise, O Lord simply means “the battle belongs to the Lord.” God is the one who can rescue and deliver. So trust God for the outcome.

Wait for God’s timing. He is working. Trust him.

When the storms of life hit, glance at the problem but gaze at God.