Resting in the Lord
Psalm 3:1-2, “1
O LORD, I have so many enemies;
so many are against me.
2
So many are saying,
"God will never rescue him!"[1]
Interlude”
2 Samuel 15
12While he was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors who lived in Giloh. Soon many others also joined Absalom, and the conspiracy gained momentum.
Psalm 69
4
Those who hate me without cause
are more numerous than the hairs on my head.
These enemies who seek to destroy me
are doing so without cause.
They attack me with lies,
demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.
Psalm 22
7
Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8
"Is this the one who relies on the LORD?
Then let the LORD save him!
If the LORD loves him so much,
let the LORD rescue him!"
Psalm 71
11
They say, "God has abandoned him.
Let’s go and get him,
for there is no one to help him now."
King David here must have felt in the minority despite him being the King over Israel at this time. There may have been as many as 10,000 soldiers surrounding him at this time (3:6). Not only did David’s enemies view life differently than himself, but they sought also to harm him. While King David could have trusted his army to do what it would, King David put his trust and hope in the Lord and His mercy (3:4); therefore he was at peace with whatever situations came his way and whatever outcome occurred, knowing that God’s great purposes would prevail. We can overcome fear by trusting God for his protection in our darkest hour. David here is not seen as sitting on his throne but running for his life from his rebellious son; Absalom, and a host of traitors. When circumstances go against us; it is tempting to think that God is also against us. But David reminds us that the opposite is true. When everything seems to go against us, God is still for us. If circumstance has turned against you, don’t blame God-seek His face! The word interlude is a translation of the Hebrew word Selah which occurs 71 times in Psalms and three times in Habakkuk (3:3, 9,13). Its precise meaning is not known; however, we think that it could mean three things. First it could mean it was a musical direction to the singers and orchestra to play forte or crescendo. It was a signal to lit up the hands or voice in worship, or to the priest to give a benediction. It was a phrase like Amen, meaning so be it, or Hallelujah meaning, praise the Lord.
Psalm 3:3-4, “3
But you, O LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the one who lifts my head high.
4
I cried out to the LORD,
Interlude
and he answered me from his holy mountain.”
Psalm 5
12
For you bless the godly, O LORD,
surrounding them with your shield of love.
Psalm 27
5
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6
Then I will hold my head high,
above my enemies who surround me.
At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the LORD with music.
Psalm 28
7
The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger.
I trust in him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Psalm 62
7
My salvation and my honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
Psalm 4
3
You can be sure of this:
The LORD has set apart the godly for himself.
The LORD will answer when I call to him.
Psalm 34
4
I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me,
freeing me from all my fears.
Psalm 99
9
Exalt the LORD our God
and worship at his holy mountain in Jerusalem,
for the LORD our God is holy!
God’s holy mountain was Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, the place where David’s son Solomon would build the Temple (2nd Chronicles 3:1). David knew that God could not be confined to any space, but he wrote poetically, expressing confidence that God would hear him when he prayed. God responds to us when we earnestly pray to him.
Psalm 3:5-6, “5
I lay down and slept.
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.”
Leviticus 26
6"I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep without fear. I will remove the wild animals from your land and protect you from your enemies.
Psalm 4
8
I will lie down in peace and sleep,
for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.
Psalm 139
17
How precious are your thoughts about me,[1] O God!
They are innumerable!
18
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up in the morning,
you are still with me!
Proverbs 3
24You can lie down without fear and enjoy pleasant dreams. 25You need not be afraid of disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, 26for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
Psalm 23
4
Even when I walk
through the dark valley of death,[1]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
Psalm 27
3
Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will know no fear.
Even if they attack me,
I remain confident.
Psalm 118
10
Though hostile nations surrounded me,
I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD.
11
Yes, they surrounded and attacked me,
but I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD.
12
They swarmed around me like bees;
they blazed against me like a roaring flame.
But I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD.
13
You did your best to kill me, O my enemy,
but the LORD helped me.
We all know that sleep does not come easy to us when we are going through hard times. David may have had many sleepless nights when his son Absalom rebelled and gathered an army to kill him. But he slept peacefully, even during the rebellion. What made the difference? David prayed to the Lord and sought His face expecting God to grant him peace in order so that he could rest. The assurance of answered prayer brings peace. It is easier to sleep well when we have full assurance that God is in control of circumstances. If you are lying awake at night worrying about your problems, cry out to the Lord. We cannot change the circumstances surrounding our lives by worrying about them. Instead of worrying hand them over to the Lord in prayer by pouring out your heart to Him. Thank Him for the fact that He is in charge, by crying out to Him, and then sleep will come.
Psalm 3:7-8, “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.
Interlude
May your blessings rest on your people.”
Psalm 28
8
The LORD protects his people
and gives victory to his anointed king.
Psalm 29
11
The LORD gives his people strength.
The LORD blesses them with peace.
Isaiah 43
11I am the LORD, and there is no other Savior.
Jeremiah 3
23Our worship of idols and our religious orgies on the hills and mountains are completely false. Only in the LORD our God will Israel ever find salvation.
David’s call for God to act reveals his desire for justice against his persecutors. David himself was slapped and insulted, and here he simply asked for equal treatment for his enemies. He did this not out of personal revenge but for the sake of God’s justice. Verse 8 shows the humility behind David’s words-he realized that faith in God’s timing was the answer to his question about the success the wicked had unfairly achieved. So here now we see the importance of resting in God’s hands. When we rest in His arms, fear cannot touch us, as we abide in Him, who is our Lord He will give us the strength and the courage to face all of life’s problems just as David did with his son. The key is to trust in Him and to lean upon Him for strength, not just when the problems come in life, but even more so when they aren’t, for it is during that time when the problems aren’t flying at you a million miles an hour that you had best prepare for the times when life’s problems are being thrown at you, a million miles an hour. Rest in Him for resting in Him will help you to overcome fear, and any other host that assails your heart, which God purchased on the Cross. Trust, and believe and cry out to the Lord today for strength, rest in the Lord for that is where our strength lies.
Pastor David Jenkins
http://www.servantsofgrace.net
