A God that I Can Trust

Pray,

Give Honor

Text

Psalm 3:1–8 (NLT)

1. O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. 2. So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” Interlude 3. But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. 4. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude 5. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. 6. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side. 7. Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked! 8. Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people. Interlude

Life is an interesting journey.

It's a journey filled with ups and downs, and victories and defeats.

We experience high moments that make our hearts soar

and low moments that threaten to pull us under.

There are moments of clarity where everything makes sense,

But then there are moments of uncertainty, where we are stuck wondering which way to turn.

Child of God, if I can be honest,

There are moments in our lives where life has us wondering,

Where did I go wrong?

What did I do to deserve this?

Who picked these set of friends?

and What was I thinking when I got with them?

Life, is an interesting Journey.

It has a way of shaking our faith and trust in everything and everyone

It will leave you hopeless,

It will leave you helpless,

It will leave you stressed,

and it will leave you worried….

and I believe this is where our brother David finds himself in Psalms 3.

He is at a point in his life where He’s seemingly hopeless because his family has turned their backs on him,

He’s seemingly helpless because his country has turned their backs on him

and it seems as if he has more enemies than he does friends.

David could quite possibly be losing everything and everyone,

but David reminds us in this text

that of all of the things that we lost,

and of all of the people who have turned their backs on me,

God is a God, that we can trust.

He’s a God we can lean on,

He’s a God that we can place our hope in

and He’s definitely a God that we can trust.

and this thought, begs me to raise the question,

"What is it that we can trust God with?"

1. I Can Trust Him With My Problems (1-2)

It’s at the setting of this text where we find David at a pivotal moment in his life,

David is facing challenges that threaten to overwhelm him.

This is possibly One of the most significant trials he’s ever faced

his own son,

his flesh and blood,

Absalom,

has rebelled against his own father.

Absalom has done the unthinkable, and betrayed his father.

This betrayal, was not just a personal betrayal;

This betray ignited a political and social turmoil

that turned many of David's closest allies and supporters against him.

Imagine the weight on David's shoulders as he grappled with the realization that his own flesh and blood had turned against him,

his own flesh and blood had sown seeds of discord and rebellion among the people.

This was not just a simple family argument that we see at funerals and family reunions; no

this was a crisis that shook the very foundations of David's kingdom and leadership.

A son went against his daddy,

A BOY went against a KING…

A Kid betrays his Father

and In the face of such betrayal and turmoil,

David's response is both profound and inspiring.

Instead of yielding to his despair or seeking worldly solutions,

he turns his face to the Father.

He says "

O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, 'God will never rescue him!'"

These words capture the depth of David's distress and the magnitude of the challenges he faced.

Despite all the chaos and doubts swirling around him,

David's faith in God stays strong.

He doesn't ignore the problems he faces and he doesn’t leave God out.

He brings his problems to God with an expectation for God to handle it… .

It's not just a hopeful wish;

This is not just David venting,

But David is saying

God, I need you to prove my doubters wrong…

and Here’s the Good news,

These problems and issues don’t just go into one ear and out the other,

These problems and issues won’t be seen again on facebook, instagram, twitter, and Tiktok

These problems and issues won’t be the talk of the town

or in the Virginia Piolot

These problems and issues won’t be on the next podcast or reality tv show

NO

Because God is a God who is trust worthy

and for every problem we have, is an exact solution that God has,

Because God is a God we can trust with our problems,

He wont fumble them

He wont blast them

He wont condemn us for them

God is a God we can trust with our problems

That’s why we can Humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and he will exalt us in due time

Casting our cares upon him because he cares for us according to 1st peter

This is why we can cast our burdens to the Lord and he will sustain us…according to Psalms 55

This is why, we should

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known unto God.

 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep our hearts and our minds…because he’s a God we can trust with our problems

Tis so sweet, to trust in Jesus, Just to take him at his word

I can trust him with my problems because he is a God that can handle my problems.

I Can Trust Him With My Problems

but then

2. I Can Trust in His Power (3-4)

David says,

1. O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. 2. So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”

3. But you, O Lord,

I have so many problems

But you oh Lord.

I have so much pain

BUT YOU OH LORD are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. 4. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.

David in this text, uses vivid imagery of God being his SHIELD, his Glory and the Lifter of his Head.

In ancient times, a shield was a crucial piece of armor used in battle for protection.

It acted as a barrier between the warrior and incoming threats, deflecting arrows, swords, and other dangers.

This shield was a means of protection from the attack of the enemy.

This shield, though, is not just meant to be a defensive tool;

This shield was also was a symbol of kingship, authority, and protection.

A king's shield was symbolic of his sovereignty and his commitment to safeguarding his people.

So,

When David refers to God as his shield, he is acknowledging God's protective power in his life.

That God is one who can protect me from the growing group of enemies that seek to harm me.

When David refers to God as his shield,

he is not only acknowledging God's protective power but also recognizing God's royal authority over his life.

David says God, not only are you my protector, but you’re my presider,

Not only are you my help, but you are the head of my life.

I’m king, but you’re king of kings.

I had power, but the power I had only came from the anointing you gave me.

Now, hear the tone of David's words.

He declares, "But you, O Lord, are a shield for me,"

there's assurance and confidence in his voice.

It's not a plea or a request; it's a proclamation of truth-

But you, O Lord, are a shield for me

It paints a picture of David's unshakeable faith in God's power-

But you oh lord are a shield for me

It Says as a king trust his shield,

I Will trust you as my savior

But you, O Lord, are a shield for me

but then David says you are my Glory,

In biblical language, "glory" often refers to the manifestation of God's presence and power.

David acknowledges that God's presence brings honor, strength, and victory.

David then says you are ”the one who holds my head high,"

which speaks to the emotional and spiritual uplift that comes from trusting in God.

and In moments of despair and defeat,

in moments of uncertainty and calamity,

We serve a God,

Who’s power is unmatchable,

He’s sovereign and he’s capable

He’s our anchor and our corner stone

He’s the center to all things unknown

We serve a God, that

Winds can not move him

Water can not drown him

Fire can not burn him

Sickness can not kill him

The devil can’t touch him

Death, can not defeat him

The Grave can’t hold him…HE GOT UP WITH ALLL POWER!!!!!!

He’s powerful I tell you….

and

When going through seasons of uncertainty, we must never forget that God is a God who is POWERFUL.

I Can Trust Him With My Problems

2. I Can Trust in His Power (3-4)

AND LASTLY

3. I Can Trust in His Protection (5-8)

DAVID SAYS

I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. 6. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side. 7. Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked! 8. Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people.

David's turst in God's protection shows up when he says,

I laid down and slept...

I didn't worry about the enemies all around;

I just slept.

This shows how much David trusted that God would keep him safe.

Despite the dangers around him,

he felt secure enough to rest peacefully.

He does not let the size of the crowd scare him from trusting God

David's ability to lay down and sleep peacefully, unconcerned about the enemies surrounding him, speaks volumes about the deep peace he found in God's protection.

Just imagine the kind of peace David must have felt,

knowing that God was watching over him so closely that he could rest without fear or worry.

It's like having a strong security guard keeping watch over you all night,

ensuring that you can sleep soundly without any concerns about what might happen.

David's trust in God's protection allowed him to find true rest and peace, even in the midst of danger and uncertainty.

David's experience teaches us that we can find real peace by trusting in and relying on God's protection and God’s covering…

Letting worries keep us up all night is like giving these enemies too much power over our rest.

Sometimes, the best thing to do is to tuck ourselves in,

pull those covers over our head, and rest……

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. .

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High

He’s a protector I tell you

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

He’s a protector I tell you

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

He’s a protector I tell you

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

He covers me,

He protects me,

He watches out for me,

I will trust in the Lord,

Until I die,

and I