Psalms that have impacted my life

Psalm 3

The title of this Psalm is “The Lord helps His troubled people”, we live in a very troubled world, there is so much ungodliness reported worldwide, so it is good to look to God’s word for encouragement. In this psalm, David was facing one of his greatest challengers, his son Absolom was trying to take the throne from him. I am encouraged by the fact that David acknowledged that he was in trouble and that although people had told him that God could not help him, he relied on the Lord.  Verses 1&2 says: “Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who have risen up against me. Many are they who say of me ‘There is no help for him in God’”. Selah ( Pause and reflect ). The story of Absolom reminds me of the spirit of this age in which people who say that they believe in the Lord have a right to live a life that pleases them and they have a right to disrupt the traffic etc just to promote their point of view. Absolom had no claim to the throne but he tried to take it by deception. So David comes before the Lord and tells Him of the difficulties that he faced, we should never try to tough it out by ourselves, always come to the Lord and tell Him of all of our troubles. Not only did the people rise against David they also declared that in the situation God could not help him. I have been intrigued over my life when the hand of God was needed the number of people who were quick to comment that God had let you down, that is a lie from Satan. David was not put off by the opposition neither should you be! Take note of his response in verses 3&4 “But you,  O Lord,  are a shield for me, My Glory and the one who lifts my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice. And He heard me from His Holy Hill”. Selah (Pause and reflect). I have found it is in the real tough times that is when I realise that my trust in my Lord is outstandingly strong.  David had such unshakeable confidence in His Lord. He declared that the Lord was a shield to him, in those days you could not defend yourself without a shield, it protected you from the arrows and the sword. He went on to declare that the Lord lifted his head, when you lift your head you can see what is going on in front of you and take the necessary steps to stay out of trouble, when you look down you can quickly be overcome. He went on to say that when he cried to the Lord,  the Lord answered him straight away. We must never forget the power of talking to the Lord (Prayer). As we remember the power of praying, it gives us such great confidence to start each day talking to the Lord. I am encouraged by what David declared in Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor His descendants begging bread”. It is so good to be reminded that we serve a wonderful God.