Save Me, O My God

                                                                         Psalm 3

 

December 9, 2021

 

 

 Save Me, O My God

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah 

 

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.   I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

 

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.   I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.  Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!  For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.   Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah

 

Most dads will never experience the hurt of a son wanting to kill them to take over as leader of a nation.  King David had been a great warrior King, but not much as a dad, and now his son had spent years winning the hearts of the people against his dad.  Often we hear about sons and daughters who work behind the scenes to take over a business their dad had built, and that damage is often never repaired.  Absalom was not a good son; he was a deceitful cunning young man who killed his brother in a well-planned attack.  David knew that about the son that was murder raping Absalom's sister, but did not hold him to account.  We also know that for years Absalom lived in another nation in fear of what his dad would do to him.  When he was allowed to return, David would not allow him to be in his presence, so most of this that happened was David’s fault for not being a dad to his sons and daughters.  Dads we always reap what we sow!

 

Now the important part of the story is that this warrior king knew it was not by might nor power of his but it was his God who had been the victor in every battle, and because of that David had a very personal relationship with God and listened to God’s counsel.  If each of us as dads would do as David in the area of not putting trust in our skills and abilities but in God who wills to give us guidons and directions in being a dad without regrets.  I believe that why David ended this Psalm with salvation belongs to the Lord.  It can only be found in a  personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it comes at the cost of death to yourself, your ways of getting your needs met, and allowing Jesus to do it all for you.

 

You noticed the word “Selah” being used and some say it was a pause in the singing of a Psalm, but this writer prefers to see it as to pause and reflect?  Maybe this is a good time to pause and reflect on the man in your mirror, do you have an ongoing dependence on Jesus Christ, or have you put your trust in a system of your own making?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice