A Shield About Me
SCRIPTURE
“But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.” - Psalm 3:3-4
OBSERVATION
Context gives meaning to everything. The context of Psalm 3 is found in the subtitle, “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.” Imagine literally running for your life and the person who wants to kill you is your own son. When David pens that he has many enemies and they are rising against him it was a real credible threat on his life. Yet he declares that God himself (Yahweh) is a shield about him. God will take the hits intended to injure him. The Lord protects from assault meaning to hurt him. David’s glory was not found in his accomplishment and accolades but his glory is God himself. God is his strength and encouragement because God is the lifter of his head. God heard when David cried out to him.
APPLICATION
Let God fight my battles. When there are arrows of accusation and strikes of slander—God is my shield. He will take the hits. God will absorb the assaults. I don’t need to be defensive and let it penetrate my heart. But I need to be honest and come before him in prayer so that he can be my glory and the lifter of my head. I also need to find my encouragement in God. When my head is down and I am discouraged, He alone is the lifter of my head. Remember that when I cry out to the Lord, he answers me from his holy hill.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being a shield about me. You have protected me millions of times and I may have only been aware of ten of them. Thank you for answering my prayers when I cry out to you.