Jesus My Glory and Countenance Lifter – Psalm 3

The introduction to Psalm 3 says, “A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.”

According to 2 Samuel 15:30, as David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept with his head uncovered, and his feet bare. Then, the Spirit of the Lord gave him this song. The Lord is gracious to give His servants prophetic words amidst extreme trials.

In 2 Samuel 12:9-11, the Lord had said to David, “You despised the commandment of the Lord... You have killed Uriah the Hittite... you have taken his wife to be your wife... Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house.” Absalom’s coup d’état is one of the adversities.

“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, ‘there is no help for him in God.’ Selah!” Psalm 3:1-2

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, took the adulteries, the murders and every other sin of humankind upon Himself. He was surrounded by many enemies. They cried, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” They continuously increased who troubled Him! They were malicious. They said, “He saved others. Himself He cannot save.” Their words echo the words of David’s enemies who said, “There is no help for Him in God.”

Enemies endeavor to shake our faith in God’s grace and love. They want us to concede to them.

In 2 Kings 19:14, when King Hezekiah received a threatening letter from King Sennacherib, he spread out the letter before the Lord. He asked God to take note of what his enemy predicted. The Lord delivered Hezekiah and his nation from Sennacherib. After that, Sennacherib’s own sons slew him.

The word “selah” occurs frequently in the book of Psalms. Matthew Henry Commentary says it refers to a pause in the music for reflection. As if to say, “Take time for such a thought as this.”

“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” Psalm 3:3

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 speaks of turning to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 John 2:2 says that Jesus “is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” Jesus shields believers in Him from the wrath of God that we would otherwise receive for our sins.

Jesus Christ is also the glory and the lifter of our heads. The devil wants to ruin our reputation. Death wants to end our lives. Think of it! Death is the ultimate insult to our life. Praise be to God! Jesus resurrects us who believe in Him from the dead and raises us to glory. The ultimate blessing!

“I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah!” Psalm 3:4

Jesus also cried unto God for us. He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Jesus was crucified on the hill of Golgotha. The Father heard His Son’s prayer from that holy hill. God forgives and saves whosoever calls upon His Name and professes faith in Jesus.

“I lay down and slept. I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.” Psalm 3:5

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 says, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

The Lord Jesus resurrected people from the dead in the Gospels. He too, resurrected after being dead. In John 11:25, He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”

“I will not be afraid of 10,000’s of people who have set themselves against me all around.” Psalm 3:6

We do not need to be afraid of 10,000’s of people because the Lord is the One who rescues us. He rises up and brings them down with a word from His mouth.

“Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone. You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.” Psalm 3:7

In Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30, Jesus spoke of hypocrites and wicked people being cast into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Continuously gnashing one’s teeth ruins them. The strike on the cheekbone is a rebuke. They should not have rejected God’s Son. They should have believed in Him.

“Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah!” Psalm 3:8

In Acts 2:37, on the Day of Pentecost, people were cut to the heart by the Gospel. They asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” In Acts 2:38-39, Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Whoever wants the blessing of God upon his or her life should repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit and call upon the Lord today, and every day! Do you want to be saved? Salvation belongs to the Lord. Every good and perfect gift comes from God above.