Psalm 3

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

1 Lord how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. (KJV)

Reading this psalm, I recall the verses that recount the story of David and Absalom.  Absalom was David’s third son (II Samuel 3:3) and the half-brother to Ammon who was David’s oldest son but whom also had raped Tamar, Absalom’s sister.  After Ammon had defiled Tamar, his lust turned to hatred and this hatred for her was greater than the love he had for her, and he forced her to leave in disgrace.  In II Samuel 13:21 we are told that after being informed of this event David’s only reaction to Ammon was that he was very angry, or very wroth.  Many commentaries have been written about David’s decisions on how no other action was taken by David against Ammon for this sin that he committed against Tamar David’s daughter.  However, I believe that most commentaries do not look at verse one of this chapter, to see the timestamp of this event.  This event probably happen soon after the death of Uriah, and also the death of David’s first son by Bathsheba.  It would probably have been hard to make a judgement against your own son, when your sin had given occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme and question David’s own judgment.  Also, I believe that David probably was still recalling the words of Nathan the prophet “that God would raise up evil against him from his own household” during this time.  Against this backdrop of this event I believe that David waited on the Lord instead of making this decision himself.  

This is different from the approach that many would take today.  Even in our fallen state men are quick to measure out judgment even when they themselves are guilt of sin in their life.  If fact I know of many that have taken the first steps that David did in covering up his sin (by having Uriah come home so the pregnancy of wife would be by him) and when this first cover up failed they tried other means to cover up the sin.  And then when everything came to light they would blame others or even deny the sin.  

Sometime we need to be careful on passing judgment on the actions of others when we are not sure of all the facts.  When we study David’s reaction to raping of Tamar by her stepbrother Amnon from the scriptures all we are given of David’s reaction is found in verse twenty-one and that reaction was “he was very angry”.  As I study David’s life I believe that David’s understanding of God’s mercy was changed by his sinful events that lead to the death of Uriah and the son that Uriah’s wife born to him.  Before David’s commitment of these sinful acts David was usually praying for his own protection against those that sought to harm him, now he was the one that had sinned and took the life of an innocent man.  Nathan words to David “the Lord has taken away your sin, and you shall not die” revealed to David how great God’s mercy was to an undeserving individual.  As a believer the words of the Lord’s prayer reveals the true mercy that God has provided toward us is the also the same mercy, we are to apply to those that sin against us.  “And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our dedtors.”

The belief that God takes care of those who take care of themselves is a belief that carries over to almost every aspect of our life. We are living in an age where we must make things happen, and when it does it must be God’s will.  The idea of waiting on the Lord I believe has really been forgotten in this age of instant gratification. Reading these verses gives me a glimpse at David’s response to the trial he is going through. He is trusting in God as his shield and as the one that gives glory. He will rest and lie down because the Lord sustains him. He will not fear because from the Lord will comes deliverance. David knew how to trust God. As we measure the battles, we fight in the fleeing moments of this life they are nothing compared to the victories we will have with him for eternality. 

The phase “May your blessing be on your people” reminds us to walk in the way of the Lord. Remember there is only one way and he is the way, the truth, and the life, so walk in this way and be blessed.

Here we see David the father of Absalom running from his son. When studying David’s life, the main theme I have realized is his personal relationship with the Lord and how this relationship changed David. In I Kings 15:3-5 David’s character is described as having a heart that was wholly devoted to his God. The only blemish on David’s life was the case of Uriah the Hittite. David’s examples of how he lived his life reflects a man who was truly a man after God’s own heart. He was not a man who was searching for God, but a man who walked in the way of God who waited on God’s transforming power to make his heart like God’s heart. This is reflected in the way he handled himself at the death of his son Absalom. He wept. Joab and Israel could not understand this weeping, just as the world today cannot understand the love and patience of God as Peter wrote about in II Peter 3:9. Just as the thought that David had in his heart as he walked in his chamber “O my son Absalom, my son Absalom! Would I have died instead of you.” is the same love God has for us his children. In fact, that is why Christ died on the cross for us. With his death and resurrection, he made a way to restore the broken relationship between God and man. So, when you study the psalms as well as all scripture wait on God to open his Word to you. Then you will start to see God’s transforming work in your heart as he makes you into a child of God. Stop searching for God in your way and start walking and growing in his way by studying his Word and letting it speak to you. Let your walk be characterized as a man or women who is walking with the Lord and enjoying sweet communion with Him. Let your communion with Him be a candle that sheds light to those who are searching for God.