Highlight:

3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 

Psalms 3:3

Explanation:

There is a young mom in our church who has gone through as much difficulty in the past two years as anyone I know.  She has struggled with relational problems, family problems, and life threatening illness.  Several times that I have been in the hospital room with her lately, she and her mother recount what God has done in the midst of difficulty and as they do they keep recounting this phrase, “but God”.  They’ve started to call them “but God” moments.  Things look terrible, and it seems as if there is no hope, but God shows up and shows himself to be faithful and incredible in these moments.

David gives us a “but God” moment here.  In verses 1 and 2 we hear of David’s exclamation that many are increasing against him.  It is their observation that David has no hope in God.    Many are against him.  Many are troubling him.  Many are saying he has no hope…but God.

God is described in three ways in verse 3.

First, God is described  as David’s shield.  

We all understand the concept of a shield.  It is something that protects from harm.  It is something that keeps danger at bay.  David says that God is His protector.  

Second, God is described as David’s glory.

When something is described as “my glory”, the idea is that this is what brings them honor, notability,  and the like.  It is what is good about them.  It is what they take pride in.  It is how David would want to be identified.  His identity was wrapped up in His relationship with God.

Third, God is described as “the lifter up of mine head.”

What does this phrase mean?  One way this phrase is used in a similar fashion is found in Genesis 40:13 in reference to the butler getting restored from prison to his former position.  In 2 Kings 25:27,  the phrase is used of Jehoiachin being restored as a king from prison. In this situation, David was fleeing Jerusalem because of the threat of his son Absalom.  David was declaring that if he was to be restored, it was God that would do it.  God would lift his head back to his former stature and authority.

Application

There are some clear application here. 

We must know that our ultimate protection is Christ.  Sure, you should put locks on your door.  It’s not bad to have security measures in place when they make sense.  Put on your seatbelt.   Ultimately though, Christ is our shield.  He is our protection.  We don’t have live in fear.  We can trust in Christ.

We must know that our ultimate identity is in Christ.  Sure, you are a husband, wife, dad, mom, brother, sister, boss, employee, manager, writer, musician, or athlete.  Our first identity should be that we are in Christ.  He is our glory.  What should be most notable about us ought to be our relationship with Christ.

23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

We must trust in Christ.

David’s trust for his future was in God Himself, and this trust was well placed.  God was the one who could affect his restoration.  The same is true with us.  Our trust and hope for our future should be in Christ first and foremost.

Response:

God help me to trust you this year.  Help me to know that you are my hope, my protection, and my identity.  I love you.  Amen.