One thing we can all agree on — the world is in chaos. What keeps you up at night? What’s preventing you from getting the rest that you need? Is it trying to figure out how you’re going to pay the bills and put food on the table, never mind fill the gas tank? Are you afraid of all the evil in the world? Have you or a loved one gotten a scary diagnosis? Whatever it is, know that we’ve got a God who’s bigger than any problem you may have. In these next 2 psalms, King David was struggling with real problems. However, he opened up to God because He trusted Him. And you can too! Let’s dig in…
Psalm 3
A psalm of David, regarding the time David fled from his son Absalom.
1 O Lord, I have so many enemies;
so many are against me.
2 So many are saying,
“God will never rescue him!” Interlude (Selah)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. Interlude5 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!
Psalm 3 NLT
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
Key Points
- This is the first Psalm that has a historical comment at the beginning.
- David was King, but his son Absalom, tried to seize the throne by turning many people against his father. David had to flee. Read the story in 2 Samuel 15.
- The is also the first psalm to include the term “Selah”. Here, it’s translated as “Interlude”. Pastor Sandy Adams explains…
Notice the musical notation that follows, “Selah.” This word will occur over and over throughout the Psalms. It means “to lift up.” It might have been a musical instruction intended for the musicians to take it up an octave – or play louder – or speed up the beat. Or it could’ve been an instruction to the listeners. Dwell on this thought – “Lift up the thought,” “Pause and ponder – this is an important point.”
Sandy Adams
Many times — most times — we read through the Bible just to say we read it. Consequently, we miss what God’s trying to say to us. Even though this was written centuries ago, we can learn from these words.
The message to think about, to ponder here is that when you fear the Lord, there’s nothing else to fear! Not even…
- Inflation
- Food shortages
- Evil
- Storms
- Wildfires
- Economic downturns
- ____________ (fill in the blank with whatever you fear or worries you.)
How to Pray Psalm 3 and Find Rest…
Like last week, these are my words. Obviously, feel free to copy them, change them and make them your own…
Oh, Lord, I have so many ___________ (problems, etc.)! The world is telling me that you don’t care. But, You, Oh Lord, are my Shield, my Glory, and you hold my head high.
I cried out to you, Lord, and you answered me from Heaven. I lay down and slept and woke up in safety because You watch over me. I am not afraid of the world.
Rescue me from my ___________ (illness, problem, etc.) Shatter them because victory comes from You, Oh, Lord. Bless us. Amen.
Giselle Aguiar
Psalm 4
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 Answer me when I call to you,
O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.2 How long will you people ruin my reputation?
How long will you make groundless accusations?
How long will you continue your lies? Interlude
3 You can be sure of this:
The Lord set apart the godly for himself.
The Lord will answer when I call to him.4 Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude
5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
and trust the Lord.6 Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
Psalm 4 NLT
Let your face smile on us, Lord.
7 You have given me greater joy
than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
Key Points
- David was a shepherd. There’s something interesting about sheep. They won’t rest until…
- They feel absolutely safe
- There is nothing to bother them, like flies
- They have enough space around them
- We don’t know exactly what was going on in David’s life that inspired him to write this. There could have been a famine in the land.
- This one is presented to the Chief Musician. In 2 Chronicles 6, we learn his name is Chenaniah, the temple worship leader.
- Verse 4 in the NKJV reads “Be angry and do not sin.” It’s OK to be angry. Just don’t act on it. Don’t let it control you. Keep quiet.
- Today, we can offer living sacrifices with the right attitude:
- Our bodies: Romans 12:1
- Praise: Hebrews 13:15
- Our money: Philippians 4:18
- The people are seeking better times. So are we! When will gas prices go down so we can take that road trip we’ve been planning? I could go on.
- Yet, David knew where his JOY came from — the Lord — NOT the world!
- Like Psalm 3, David sought peace and safety so that he could sleep. That’s our problem. We seek help for sleeping in everything from booze, pills, herbal tea, sound machines, melatonin, yoga, aroma therapy, you name it!
Stop carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders! Give it all to God. His shoulders are way bigger! Be open to God even when you’re in a tight spot and there’s seemingly no where to go.
How to Pray Psalm 4
Answer me when I call to You, Oh, God. You declare me cleansed from my sin. Free me from my troubles ________. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
How long before __________ is over? I am sure that You, Lord, set me apart and made me holy. You will answer when I call You.
Please help me not to sin by letting anger control me. I will ponder it overnight and be silent.
I will offer sacrifices in the right spirit with the right attitude of gratitude.
The world asks, “Who will show us better times?”. Bless us, Lord. You and only You give us a great JOY that the world cannot.
In peace I will lie down and sleep for you alone, Lord make me dwell in safety. Amen.
Giselle Aguiar
Do YOU Know Jesus?
Are you absolutely sure that He cleansed you from ALL your sins once and for all? THAT is HIS Good News! THAT is the Salvation that only comes THROUGH Jesus!
Jesus didn’t suffer torture and die so we could have religion! He died so He could have a Personal Relationship with YOU!
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.