A Psalm 3 Approach to Trouble

In Psalm 3 David wrote of his battle against intense opposition. His son and thousands of his countrymen had turned against him. As I read his response to this dire situation, it seemed like he moved through a sequence of actions as he faced his troubles.

David prayed and expressed his trouble in verses 1-2. He said, “LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.”

Then, David countered his acknowledgement of the problem by viewing his situation from the perspective that his trouble was not too much for God. I imagined through verse 3 that David raised his head with hope and resolve as he said, “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

He then testified in verses 4-5. As I read, I pictured his hands coming up in praise, witnessing, “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.”

In verse 6 David refused to be afraid. He determinedly stated, “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.” Ten thousands of people had it out for David, and their wills were to destroy him. That sounds intimidating. But David had background battling intimidating opponents all the way back to lions, bears, and a giant in his youth. (1 Samuel 17:37 “…The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of hand of this Philistine.”)

Down in verses 7-8 of Psalm 3 David reflected on God having fought for him in the past, and he called on God in expectation and declared his trust in his Lord. “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. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.”

As I read these scriptures, I had my own hand up resonating and praising God. How good He has been! From times of old to today, God’s faithfulness is unfailing.

A couple more verses that put a dollop of “Yes, Lord” on top of this encouraging Psalm are Lamentations 3:22-24: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

I don’t know how David expressed his heart outwardly in those moments of recording Psalm 3. However, his soul’s voice speaks through those scriptures of the faithfulness of God. Praise the Lord, He will keep us through hard times. “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward,” says Job 5:7. Trouble will come. When it does, though, we can remember David’s example from Psalm 3 and take his approach.