O Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
many are saying to me,
‘There is no help for you in God.’
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
I cry aloud to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy hill.
Psalm 3: 1-4
Do you ever feel like the world is against you? During these current times, many have felt that way. This infectious virus is not predictable, and sometimes seems to be present itself in unusual places, even among the tribes of the Amazon.
It is reassuring to know that God’s people have often felt these frustrations. David wrote this Psalm when his own son Absalom was leading a rebellion against him. Many had joined Absalom, and only a few men were sticking with David. No wonder he said, “How many are my foes!”
Yet, David never abandoned his faith in God. David envisioned the Lord as a shield around him, protecting him from the arrows of his enemy.
I’m reminded of a praise song, “A Shield About Me”. Its lyrics are based on a line from the Psalm:
Thou, oh Lord are a shield for me
You’re my glory
You’re the lifter of my head
The Lord does not want us to be downcast, and discouraged, dragging our heads in fear. No! He wants us to lift our heads, looking to Him for help and hope.
In David’s day, the Lord would send help from His holy hill: that is, Jerusalem. Today, we simply need to ask God directly, and He is with us.
The Lord delivered David from Absalom’s rebellion, in spite of overwhelming odds. The Lord was a shield about David, just as He is around us.
No matter challenges today presents to us, when we ask, God will place a shield of armor around us. This does not mean that nothing bad will ever happen to us, but it is a reminder that we are not alone. May the Lord be our shield from whatever we face. May He be the one who lifts up our heads, in our times of trouble!
Prayer
God of all protection,
When we feel attacked, and surrounded by troubles of every kind, remind us to place our trust in You. You are our shield, and our defender. You help us fight our battles! May we always look up to You, for help and for strength, in all that we face. We pray this prayer in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
