Psalm 3: The Terrible Times of Trials
Introduction
Can you think of the worst experience of your life? Maybe it was a dodge-ball tournament and you got TKO’s by a future major league pitcher! Not that I am speaking from experience… its just that I am a fairly big target! Maybe it was the strikeout in the bottom of the 9th inning and you couldn’t come through in the clutch to help your team win. Maybe it was the time you slipped and fell in front of the whole school.
Or..maybe it was more serious than that…maybe it was the time your dad left your family and never looked back. Maybe it was the time your family member or friend overdosed - maybe they even passed away. Maybe it was the time your husband or wife said they were leaving.
These are incredibly difficult circumstances that people across the world face. These instances happen daily…frankly they happen hourly.
According to the World Health Organization, 57 people die every hour from a drug overdose worldwide.
The CDC reports that there are at least 89 divorces that occur per hour in the United States alone! These are actually conservative estimates as some states do not report to the CDC.
People are hurting everywhere. If you have lived on earth for any measurable length of time, you have experienced trials and struggles.
Today we are going to read a Psalm of David in a trial he experienced. This is a Psalm of lamentation. The word lamentation refers to a cry of sorrow and grief. It is a cry for help from the writer.
Why is the author, namely King David, crying for help as he writes this Psalm? We are given this in the description of the Psalm - A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom His son. Time does not permit a thorough study of 2 Samuel 15:13-37 but I will give a brief summary to let us visualize where David is coming from as he writes this Psalm.
His son Absalom has had some anger brewing for a few years after his half-brother, Amnon, defiled his sister, Tamar. King David did not handle this transgression with the justice that Absalom sought so he took matters into his own hands after a while and killed his brother Amnon and then fled.
After some time, Absalom was brought back to Jerusalem, but David never fully reconciled with his son and kept him at a distance. Absalom continued to gain favor with the people by interceding for them at the gate and giving them counsel. Over time, Absalom stole the hearts of the people and planned a rebellion and conspired to take the kingdom from his father David.
At the time of the writing of this Psalm, David is now forced to flee Jerusalem as Absalom is approaching to take over the kingdom from his father. It is with this experience that David writes the following Psalm:
Read Full Scripture:
Psalm 3:1–2 ESV
1 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah
Psalm 3:3–4 ESV
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
Psalm 3:5–6 ESV
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.
Psalm 3:7–8 ESV
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
Prayer
This passage shows us four beneficial ways that we can respond to trials. The first way we can respond to trials is by Enduring Persecution:
Background Scripture Cross-reference: 2 Samuel 15:13-37
I. In Times of Trial, You Can…Endure Persecution (1-2)
Psalm 3:1–2 ESV
1 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah
Explanation
Despite David’s shortcomings as a father and with his adultery with Bathsheba, he still was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14). We see this magnified with where David turns in time of trouble. He turns to the Lord. And so begins his lamentation.
We are confronted with David’s situation right off the bat. How many are his foes and they are rising against him. They are saying that there is no salvation for him.
Notice that David uses the word many here three times in a row. He is emphasizing that there are many that are out to get him. He has many enemies right now. He has many reasons to run for his life and head for the caves and mountains!
He is quick to let the readers know his situation. He isn’t sugar coating it at all. He is calling it like he sees it. He is in trouble.
At the end of the second verse we come to a term that we will see throughout the Psalms at times. In fact we see it in this particular psalm three different times. The term is Selah. This terms meaning is somewhat uncertain and may have been a musical term. However, some think it means to pause and consider what has been said for a moment. So let’s do that.
David has just told the Lord his situation. Obviously the Lord knows what is going on. Yet David laments his situation.
How do you handle difficult situations in your life? Where do you turn when the trials of this life come your way? When persecution knocks on your door, where do you look for help? David had no doubt on where he would go. He went to the Lord of Lords. In fact, the term LORD here is God’s covenantal and personal name that David mentions. If you were present last week we discussed that God has different names that describe Him. His most personal name is Yahweh. David cries out to his personal Yahweh.
Many may cry out to their friends, parents, teachers, counselors, etc. Not that these people can’t help us along the way and be one of God’s tangible ways to help us through difficult situations. However, where do we first turn? If it is not directly to God we are off base and our hope is in the wrong place. Jesus Christ is our Wonderful Counselor and our Prince of Peace. Believers today should have even more assurance than David as we have Christ interceding for us at the right hand of the Father! We are able to approach Jesus confidently as seen in Hebrews 4:14-16 because of His finished work on the cross!
Yet - The evil of this world may spew out hate toward you and make comments like David was hearing at the end of verse two. Oftentimes - the greatest persecution that comes upon us is not external but internal.
Psalm 3:2 ESV
2 many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah
Many are saying of his what? His soul. This is a deep internal struggled and persecution. They say “there is no salvation for him.” Satan may whisper to you that there is no forgiveness for the wrongs you have done. Remember - David wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes - some really huge ones.
You may be hearing condemnation for your spouse, from you parent, from your boss, from your children. They may be saying that there is no forgiveness for what you have done. You may be hearing the lies of the enemy which continually bring up the huge mistake or mistakes in your past - adultery, abortion, murder, theft, abandonment of your children and spouse. The enemy may be like a dripping faucet letting you know that there is no way that you could find salvation.
Yet David finds salvation from the Lord. David is a murderer and an adulterer. He had a man killed and stole his wife. Yet, he repents and is forgiven.
My friend, if you are struggling with overcoming the guilt of sin - remember that Christ’s blood is sufficient to cover any and all sin. All He asks is that you repent - turn away from your sin - and give your life to him after believing He is who He says He is.
If you are a believer and are still struggling with guilt because of past sins - cast your burdens onto Christ. He paid the penalty. Your works won’t save you. Your guilt wont deliver you. Only Christ can deliver you.
I once heard a pastor make the following quote.
“Don’t confuse your situation with your salvation.”
(Repeat)
In other words - your salvation is independent of your situation. Believers have already been given victory over sin. You need not count your situation as hopeless - for salvation belongs to those who are in Christ. Rest in Christ.
Remember, my friends, in times of trial you can endure persecution… and you can also...
Scripture References: 1 Sam 13:14, Heb 4:14-16
II. In Times of Trial, You Can…Enlist Protection (3-4)
Psalm 3:3–4 ESV
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
Explanation
Again, David cries out to his God. And he calls Him a shield about him. David calls God his protector. Not his many mighty men that went along with him - although they were blessings from God for his protection. No not his wealth or even the walls of Jerusalem. He calls God his true protector. He sees God as his shield from the dangers of this world.
Then he calls God his glory.
What is your glory? Is it your looks, your physical strength, your intellect, your talent? For David it was God, Himself. David knew that nothing that he had could measure up to the overwhelming glory of the Lord. Don’t settle for the counterfeit glories of this world.
Lastly, he ends verse three by calling God the lifter of his head.
What is the natural reaction someone has when they are defeated? They usually lower their head in humiliation. But God gives confidence to His people. We may lose battles on this earth but as believers we never lose the war! God has declared victory from the beginning and one day it will be consummated. Jesus Christ will be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords!
Moving on to verse 4 we see David let us know that the Lord answered! How glorious is this verse! God hears and answers the cries of His people. He doesn’t just leave us in the midst of trial and persecution. He answers us and walks beside us through the trials.
Illustration
Elsewhere in the Psalms we see David say the following:
Psalm 20:7 ESV
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Here we see David stating the same idea. God is his deliverer and protector. He isn’t relying on his own strength or wisdom. Even though he had a magnificent army and was among the greatest military commanders in the world, he did not trust in his abilities. He trusts in God as his protector.
Argumentation/Application
How about you my friends. We have discussed trials in some detail this evening. I am sure that every one of us have gone through a trial or are going through somewhat of a trial even now.
Who are you enlisting for protection? What are you enlisting for protection?
1. How about enlisting protection from your finances?
Is it your 401k? Your savings? Your real estate property? Your gold investments?
It doesn’t take much time to see that the material possessions of the world can fall away so quickly. The Lord has been gracious to bring back the stock market as well as He has this year, but if you recall, the Dow Jones hit 18,591 on March 23, 2020, which was a huge drop from the over 29,000 record highs in the prior month. Many saw their retirement funds and investments take a nose-dive and lost almost a third of their wealth in a few weeks. Is that where we wish to put our trust for protection?
2. How about enlisting protection from your own health and strength?
What about our health and strength? Many listening may have excellent health. However, there are some that could be the first to let you know that these mortal bodies aren’t meant to last forever. Aches, pains, weakness, cancer, sickness - all creep in and take their toll on our bodies.
3. How about enlisting protection from other people?
Although God gives us the body of Christ to help us and commands us to meet together (Heb 10:25) and love one another (John 15:12), people are not to be who we put our ultimate trust in.
Let’s take a look at why Christ is the One we should truly trust:
Hebrews 7:27–28 ESV
27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
We see here that Jesus has no need to offer a sacrifice for Himself like the priests of the Old Testament needed to. He is perfect already! He has no need for for His sins to be forgiven.
Why would we trust in sinful man when we can trust in the perfect Son of Man (repeat)- Jesus Christ. Why enlist protection from those who can’t even help themselves when we can enlist protection from the one who took on the sins of the entire world and rose victorious!
Brothers and sisters, when trials come, and they will, enlist the protection of Christ.
After enlisting this protection from Christ we can:
Scripture References: Psalm 20:7, Heb 10:25, John 15:12, Heb 7:27-28
III. In Times of Trial, You Can…Enter His Rest (5-6)
Psalm 3:5–6 ESV
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.
Explanation
I want to make sure everyone is paying attention right now.... David has just said there are a ton of people coming to try to take his head off. He has cried out to the Lord in lamentation. And now - he sleeps. He sleeps!
How many of you would have a restful night sleep when you know people are out to kill you? Let’s be honest - sometimes we don’t get a good rest when we are worried about far less than that!
So - What has given him this peace that now allows him to sleep? Verse 4 gives us the answer. The Lord has answered him. He has enlisted the protection of God and now he can enter God’s rest!
Does that mean everything is immediately better? Absolutely not. But we see here that the Lord is sustaining David. He is keeping him going. He is supporting and strengthening David during this trial.
Verse 6 shows us that David is starting to acknowledge exactly what he is up against. The first two verses he can only get out that there are many - and he did so three times as we mentioned earlier! Now he acknowledges there is a definite number - many thousands of people.
Yet it is at this moment that David allows God to abolish his fear. Why is David not afraid any longer? Is it because of his mighty men? Is it because of superior war strategy? Is it because he has given up all hope and is embracing imminent defeat? No, it is because of his faith in God. He trusts that God will deliver him.
IllustrationArgumentationApplication
There is no one who models this fearless demeanor in the face of trials better than the Lord, Jesus Christ. There are almost countless examples in the Scriptures but the one that seems to stick out to me is when he sleeps through the storm.
Mark 4:35–37 ESV
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
Mark 4:38–41 ESV
38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Here we see a group of experienced fisherman thinking they are all going to die. Remember - these guys had logged a lot of hours on the water and if they thought they were going to die it must have been pretty bad! This sounds a lot like the beginning of Psalm 3 doesn’t it? We see an experienced military veteran fearing he is going to die. Yet what does Jesus do - he is sleeping during one of the most dangerous storms these fisherman have ever seen. Why? Because He trusts His Father!
And praise God we see God give David a renewed trust here in the Psalm we are studying today. David enters the rest of Christ!
How restful is your life today? Are you resting in the rest of the Lord? Do you sleep soundly or are you anxious about many things? Do you trust the protection and provision of Jesus for your life or are you looking elsewhere for deliverance?
Jesus offers us rest. He will carry our burdens for us. He will fight our battles for us. Let us trust the Lord with our whole lives and cast our cares and anxieties on our glorious Lord and Savior (1 Peter 5:7).
Then we may enter His rest… And lastly:
Scripture References: Mark 4:35-41, 1 Peter 5:7
IV. In Times of Trial, You Can…Ensure Victory (7-8)
Psalm 3:7–8 ESV
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
Scripture References: 2 Samuel 18, 2 Samuel 14:26, 1 John 4:18
Explanation/Illustration
In Verse 7 - We see David’s cry for deliverance. We see his confidence in God’s power. David knows that evil has no authority over God. God rules over all and David trusts God to come through and defend him. He calls on God to act - to strike his enemies on the cheek and break the teeth of the wicked.
If we play the rest of the account in 2 Samuel regarding Absalom as we started, we see that God did deliver David as seen in 2 Samuel 18. Absalom gets his head stuck in a tree as his mule goes under it and he is suspended by his head and hair - interestingly - it is his vain hair that likely leads to his downfall. His glory had not been the Lord but in himself.
2 Samuel 14:26 ESV
26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.
For those of you wishing to know how much this weighed - 200 shekels is about 5 lbs!
How many of you weigh your hair after you cut it? I can guarantee you that mine wouldn’t weigh much right now! But Absalom has taken vanity to the next level. Yet - God is a jealous God. Absalom decided to put his trust in his looks, his hair, his ability to steal the people’s heart by his charisma. Yet, David trusted the Lord and was delivered.
So as Absalom hung there, Joab is informed of the situation and he and his armor bearers strike Absalom down and end the conspiracy and restore the kingdom to David. God comes through and delivers David.
And so we get to the end of this Psalm with verse 8. David appeals to God and asks for salvation. And as we have just seen - it is given to him. His confidence in God isn’t just blind confidence. He knows that God has placed him in the position of authority that he is in. He was anointed by Samuel the prophet years before. He also remembers all of the times that God delivered him from the hand of Saul as Saul tried to kill him repeatedly. His faith is well placed in the sovereign creator.
Argumentation/Application
David knew where to turn for victory over adversity. He didn’t turn to his own abilities. He didn’t trust in his wealth, military prowess, mighty men, or intellectual abilities. He didn’t try to work his way to victory here. He humbled himself before the Creator of the Universe and asked his God for salvation and victory.
Conclusion
We can learn a lot from a Psalm like this. As we started this sermon off, many are going through trials and tribulations in life. We all have our dilemmas that we face. The questions each of us need to ask of ourselves are:
“What is our response to trials? Fear or Faith?”
and
“Who are we turning to for victory and salvation?”
As we wrap up for tonight I want us to end with answers to these questions as provided in this Psalm.
These questions are beautifully addressed in this Psalm through the Selahs found in it.
As we have read this Psalm we have come to three different Selahs.
These three Selahs are times where we need to pause and think about what was just said. We need to take some time and really study and understand what just came before the Selah.
The Selah of Fear (Psalm 3:1-2)
The Selah of Faith (Psalm 3:3-4)
The Selah of Freedom (Psalm 3:5-8)
My friends, which Selah or pause are you at today? How are you responding to trials: Are you responding in Fear, Faith, Freedom? Are you in the Selah of Fear? Are you trying all of the other ways to try to gain victory and freedom but coming up empty? Embrace the Selah of Faith and put your trust in Christ alone. Trust in his death on the cross, his resurrection three days later, and his ascension into heaven. Trust in the forgiveness that comes from placing your faith in Christ and repenting - our turning away - from your sins. You can be free of this fear. Allow Christ to change your fear to faith and freedom in Him. Christ lets us know that his perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).
Lastly - many of you have already placed your faith in Christ but have not embraced your victory and freedom that is found in Christ. You are allowing the trials of this world to blind you to the freedom that is in Christ. I pray that each of us can fully experience the freedom and victory that comes through faith and trust in Christ. Salvation is in Christ alone. The battle has been won by Christ. Believers - your sins are forgiven. The chains of sin no longer have a hold of you. You can walk in the victory and freedom that Christ provides. Embrace the victory Christ has provided.
Prayer