The Psalms

Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Ps. 3:1-4 (NIV)

In the time of despair, where do we naturally turn to? Some may say they rely on their skills after years of training and studies, others may say that they do not have the coping method and just handle it as it comes. There are those who turn to the bottle or to the drugs to cope while others just withdraw and disappear.

David, son of Jesse and future king of the Jews, came upon many struggles and trials. There were many times he could have and, frankly, should have, found a quiet little corner with a big bottle of mead and just drank his troubles away but that is not what happened. He called out “Lord”, the first words in Psalm 3, that was the big attention getter right there. This Psalm did not start out “oh woe is me, I am lost and have no way out” but rather it started out as a bold cry; LORD! How many are my foes, what am I up against? Then came the great declaration; “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high”.

We can look to mortal coping methods in these incidents and find only temporary escape, I know because I have been there but so rarely do people first cry out to the Lord. Psalm 116:1-2 (NIV), I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. David was being pursued by his enemy and he called out to God, “How many are my enemies, how great is the force?” and then he looked to God for the strength required to face his foe. Not every time is the need physical, there was and is a time for patience, wisdom, courage, humility and knowledge, all things that God has in infinite abundance. So what stops us from calling on Him as long as we live?

This Sunday we are going to delve into the Psalms and discover just how relevant they still are in our current needs. If you were only able to make one call in the face of adversity, would you call out to God?

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. Ps. 113:1-2

May God bless you all Richly!!

Pastor Todd