Psalms 3:1

The Bible says in Psalms 3:1-2, “LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
[2] Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.?” If you have not yet experienced this, and you are a follower of Jesus, then you will experience it. You will have opposition. As Paul said in First Corinthians 16:9, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” Both verse 1 and the verse in First Corinthians have the word “many.” Why are there “many” adversaries to the Christian who walks in fellowship with the Lord Jesus? There are many adversaries because true Christians are in a minority in this world, and so there are many people that the dark spiritual forces can use to rise up in opposition to believers. Notice that David said that these enemies “trouble me.” They will get under your skin, and they will be effective at hurting you. One of the reasons that they are against you is that they see you as a prey. They see you as being weak and an easy target. Of course, they are not believers and they do not think that God helps anyone, including you.

This is a spiritual battle. The people who oppose you are not the enemy. Actually, we are on their side because we would like to see them saved and end up in heaven. The real enemy is the spiritual darkness, and the forces of spiritual darkness are using those weak people to attack you and cause you trouble. As it says in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Now the question is: what can we do about it? There are two things that we can do according to Psalms 3:3-4, “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.[4] I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.” First we remember who God is and our relationship to Him. God is our “shield.” That means that He will protect us from the attacks. The enemies can attack all they want, but if God protects us, that is all we need. King David wrote that the Lord is “my glory.” The Lord will cause me to shine as much as He wants me to shine. What God wants to happen is what is going to happen. No human beings can keep God’s will from happening to me. When David said that God was “the lifter up” of his head, King David meant that God had given to David a place of power and authority as King of Israel. No one could remove David from his place as long as God wanted David there. It says in Romans 13:1, “…the powers that be are ordained of God.”

When we are attacked, we can call unto the Lord and He will hear us. That is one of the benefits of following the Lord Jesus. Once we come to know Jesus as Savior, we are forgiven of our sins; but then we also have the Lord as a resource to help us in all situations. David wrote in verse 4, “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.” It is really amazing that God who is holy allows us to come into His presence in prayer. We are exceedingly sinful, but because of Jesus we can come boldly to the throne of grace and find help. Jesus died for our sins, Jesus took away our sins on the cross of Calvary, and once we put our faith and trust in Jesus, God accounts righteousness and holiness to our credit even though we do not deserve it.

Psalms 3:5-8 tells the results of calling upon the name of the Lord in the day of trouble. It says, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.[6] I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.[7] Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.[8] Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.” Notice in verse 5 that David said that after he prayed, “I laid me down and slept.” The result of praying was peace and rest. It says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Another benefit of praying about his troubles is shown when King David said in verse 6, “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.” This is courage and bravery. We live in a time when people are afraid. They are afraid of the unbelievers. They are afraid of opposition. They are afraid of the power of those who might rise up against them. Remember that you plus God is a majority. Christians should be the bravest people in the world.

Notice that David prayed in verse 7, “O LORD; save me, O my God.” There are two basic meanings to being saved in the Bible. The first is to have your soul saved by Jesus so that your sins are forgiven and you enter into heaven instead of into hell. The second is to have your life saved. In order to have your life saved, you will need to be rescued many times from different difficult and trying situations. First you call on the name of the Lord Jesus in order to get saved from your sins and to have a home reserved for you in heaven. And then you often call upon the name of the Lord Jesus whenever you are in a difficult situation and you ask for the Lord to save you from that situation.

If you have learned to call upon the Lord instead of taking things into your own hands, you will see that God will take care of your enemies, just as David said in verse 7, “for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.” God tells believers, “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay.” David lived in a time of hand-to-hand combat, and so breaking the teeth would have been an injury that was well-known. David is saying that God will take them out. God loves His believers, and God does bring vengeance on those who harm or oppose His children. Jesus said in Mark 9:42, “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.”

The Lord has power to save. That is what He is all about. He knows we need to be saved, and He wants to save us. That is why Jesus went to the cross of Calvary. Jesus said in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” David said in verse 8, “Salvation belongeth unto the LORD.” The greatest blessing is to be saved from your sins through faith in Christ. Once you are saved, many more blessings start flowing your way especially if you will keep calling on His name. That is why David said to God at the end of verse 8, “thy blessing is upon thy people.” If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, you need to turn to Him today.

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