“God! Look! Enemies past counting!
Enemies sprouting like mushrooms,
Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery:
“Hah! No help for him from God!”

But you, God, shield me on all sides;
You ground my feet, you lift my head high;
With all my might I shout up to God,
His answers thunder from the holy mountain.

I stretch myself out. I sleep.
Then I’m up again—rested, tall and steady,
Fearless before the enemy mobs
Coming at me from all sides.

Up, God! My God, help me!
Slap their faces,
First this cheek, then the other,
Your fist hard in their teeth!

Real help comes from God.
Your blessing clothes your people!”

Psalm 3 MSG

Psalm 3 was written when David was fleeing from his son, Absalom. (Recorded in 2 Samuel 15)

Have you ever been betrayed by someone you were close to? Have you ever felt attacked, perhaps, by the person you were closest to? Even family?

Well…this Psalm might be super relatable to you. The emotions in it are super open and expressive. To the point where we can see clear shifts in tone and in confidence in who God is and what David knows He will do.

We see the opening lines are ones that clearly let God know where he’s at.
He’s in a place where he can hear his enemies and what they are saying about his relationship and walk with God. You see, to THEM, this situation seems lost…hopeless…as if God was nowhere to be found and had abandoned him.

David’s tone shifts into one of confidence in the midst of this stress and confusion. He knows his position in the hands of God. He knows that he can be, and is, “…rested, tall and steady…”. He has full faith and confidence that God is going to protect and shield him from the plans of his enemies (even his own son).

This Psalm gives me great hope and brings a smile on my face. Let us return to Psalm 3 when we feel betrayed to the core. When we feel left abandoned. Let us be quick to remind ourselves of the provision and protection of the Lord our God.